glorious House incorruptible Inheritance and a biding Kingdom for us We have an Advocate with the Father our Redeemer liveth and we shall see him All his Enemies shall be made his footstool Christ is glorified his Members however vilified on earth shall be like Him and abide with Him and He will be admired in his Saints He is gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us John 14.3 And thus much briefly for this first branch Christ Ascended The second is Christ blessed his Disciples at his Ascension But may some one say How did Christ bless them I answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bless is to speak well So Christ alwayes spake well Never man spake like Him Grace was poured in his lips and gracious Words proceeded out of his mouth But it hath a more special Importance 1. To bless is to acknowledge the Blessedness and Perfection of another So the greater is blessed of the less So with the tongue we bless God even the Father and our Souls bless the Lord. 2. To bless is sometimes to pray for a Blessing So Isaac blessed Jacob when he prayed God give thee of the Dew of Heaven Gen. 27.27 And God Almighty bless thee Gen. 28. The 1st and 3d. Thus Jacob blessed Josephs Sons when he prayed The Angel that redeemed me from all evil bless the lads Gen. 48.9 16. 3. To bless is to pronounce a blessing and that either in the way of an ordinary Ministry Thus Aaron and his Sons were to bless the People saying The Lord bless thee and keep thee c. Numb 6.23 So Simeon Levi and Judah Issachar Joseph and Benjamin were appointed to stand upon Gerizzim to bless the People Deut. 27.12 Or else by an extraordinary Spirit of prophesie So Jacob blessed his Sons when he told them what should befal them in the last dayes Gen. 49. And Balaam prophesying the prosperity of Israel is said to have blessed them altogether Numb 24.10 4. To Bless is to make blessed to give as well as speak a blessing So Israel was blessed effectually Numb 22.12 Curse them not for they are blessed Thus there are Blessings spiritual and Blessings temporal Blessings of basket and store c. 5. To bless is to set apart from a common to a holy and spiritual use So Christ blessed the Bread when he set it apart to signifie his Body Mat. 26.26 Now when Christ blessed his Disciples the four last of these acceptions of Blessing may very well be comprized and intended The gesture used in blessing them lifting up his hands may well suit with pronouncing of a Blessing in way of prayer The Gifts and Graces poured on them soon after his Ascension speak the efficacy of his Blessing and that it was not empty words but Spirit and Life And it is evident that at his Ascension he set them apart and gave them a Commission to go and preach the Gospel Other Texts might be cited proving that Christ's Ascending did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speak well to his Disciples as Mark 16.17 18 19. and Acts 1.8 9. But the Text so fully assureth us that Christ lifted up his hands and blessed just at his Parting and Ascension that we need no other Confirmation To come then to the Reasons why Christ Ascended blessing The two main springs whence his Blessing slowed are his Love and his Faithfulness which two were the reasons of his Humiliation and Transactions He loved his Elect and He was faithful to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 Out of Free-grace and Faithfulness He laid down his Life a Ransome for many He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 His Father had appointed Him and promised Him to bless and he faithfully performed it He came to bless and went to Heaven blessing There are eight special Reasons or Ends which Christ had in his eye in blessing his Disciples so solemnly when he was leaving Earth to go to his Father 1. He would assure his Disciples that his affection to them was the same now at parting as they had found it from his first choosing them they might have thought it strangeness had he gone and not left a Blessing behind him after all his kindness and compassion And this is one end to which are directed all those gracious and comfortable Expressions recorded in the 12 13 14 15 16th Chapters of John with that pathetical Prayer John 17. shewing him as tender-hearted towards them at last as ever He displayeth his Banner of Love over them in this gracious Valediction going to Heaven Blessing 2. Jesus Christ would have his Disciples and all that should believe in his Name to know that he carried the same Heart to Heaven with him that he had on Earth so that though his bodily presence was removed yet his Love continued and he would be as mindful of them in his Kingdom as ever he had been on Earth And this is another End of his gracious Expressions at and a little before his Ascension He knew how ready they might be through weakness and temptation to question his care and doubt of his Love as the Israelites about Moses Exod. 32. As for this Moses we wot not what is become of him He would not have them think Now Jesus Christ is gone and his Mercy is at an end he hath forgotten to be gracious and so sink in despairing thoughts No He assureth them John 16.26 I say unto you I will pray the Father for you rest satisfied question not but I will remember you and set you as a seal upon my Heart as a seal upon mine Arm I will carry your names engraven on my Brest-plate and make intercession for you and here he would assure them of lasting Love in parting from them with the most notable expression of it He solemnly blessed them 3. Jesus Christ would have his People assured that he is the Messiah the promised Seed in whom all Nations shall be blessed Gen. 18.18 The Apostle mentioneth this Covenant with Abraham Acts 3.25 26. and sheweth that Christ came to bless in pursuit of that Covenant and to fulfil Scripture It was prophesied of Christ Psal 72.17 Men shall be blessed in Him And Blessing was his beginning and conclusion in his Ministry upon Earth the beginning of his first Sermon and the close of his Last 4. He blessed them that he might not leave them overwhelmed with grief nor swallowed up of sorrow at his departure John 14.1 18 27. I will not leave you comfortless let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid He knew the loss of his Presence might strike cold to their hearts The Children of the Bridechamber might mourn alas the Bridegroom is taken away they might cry after so good a Teacher and Master My Father my Father the Horsemen of Israel and Chariots thereof and sorrow most of all that they must see his face on Earth no more Well The Lord God had
and halt that way in Religion This Oyntment might have been sold for so much says Judas whose mind was chiefly on the Bag. Holy David was of another disposition I will not serve the Lord with that which costs me nothing One thing I must tell you here If our Religion be not such as weans our hearts from the world the world wil deaden them to the exercise of Religion If the love of God we all profess to have be not such as consumes inordinate love to the world our love of the world will smother the love of God not suffer that to live and breath in us See Matt. 6.24 4. A sinful cowardize and fear of man Prov. 29.25 The fear of man bringeth a snare Ponit offendiculum Lavater Tremel it causeth many to stumble Ponit tendiculam it layes many fast As we read John 7.12 13. Among the people some said of our Saviour He is a good man Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews Seducit turbas Ludol Carth. clarius Sonabant Sed Bonus est pressius susurrabant There were great numbers and many of great note in the world that cryed out aloud He seduceth the people But that he was a good man it was whispered amongst some but scarce any found that durst speak it out The fear of man would plainly argue our forgetfulness of God Isa 51.12 13. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil Prov. 16.6 whereas by the fear of men many depart from the Lord. The former is a Soveraign Antidote against sin an excellent means to preserve us from it Neh. 5.15 Exod. 20.20 The latter greatly exposeth unto sin As we have a sad instance in Peter being surprized with fear how was he whorried into the denial of his Lord and Master when as he should have been more afraid of this than of a thousand deaths Thus you have heard some of the causes of halting in Religion Other might be named but I forbear Demon. 3. Halting in Religion may further appear to be exceeding evil in regard of the evil effects the sad consequences of it And that both in respect of God of the godly of sinners and of ones self 1. In respect of God 1. Hereby God is dishonored his Name polluted It was a Law among the Jews Lev. 21.9 The daughter of any Priest if she profane her self by playing the Whore she profaneth her Father she shall be burnt with fire More holiness would be expected in such a one as the daughter of a Priest thus the crime in her was greater She prophaneth the Name of her Father Then what a prophaning the Name of God is this for such as are called his People to go a whoring from him The sinful slips and falls of Professors cast dirt as it were on the Name of God since they are taken to belong to him And how just a thing it is that God should spit in their faces put them to shame who care not thus to throw dirt in his face Thus indeed the sins of such as profess God's Name and stand in a nearer relation to him are worse than the sins of others The miscarriages of strangers of those that are without reflect not so much on God to his dishonor as the miscarriages of those who are within his Houshold and Family as the Church is called The Commands of God are violated and broken by others also yet the holy Name of God is not so polluted by others But the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Rom. 2.24 Better in this respect men would never take up a Profession than to rest here without taking any care for a suitableness of conversation Ezek. 20.39 As for you O house of Israel thus saith the Lord God Go ye serve every one his Idols and hereafter also if ye will not hearken unto me but pollute ye my holy Name no more q.d. If ye will not be ruled by me then go and serve your Idols altogether appear what you are but make no more shew of being my People to reproach and disgrace me It was a great dishonour to God that it should be said These are the Lord's People Ezek. 36.20 Hence as the sins of those who have his Name called on them are so far worse a greater dishonor to God than others so the more open and publick their warpings are still the more dishonour unto God Therefore the Lord was so quick and smart with Moses with that eminent Saint that faithful Servant of his that Favourite of Heaven Moses who was so far honoured that the Lord spake to him face to face even as a man speaks to his friend Yet Numb 20.12 The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron Because ye believe me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the Children of Israel Therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the Land which I have given them For this halting of yours before the Children of Israel you shall fall short of Canaan you shall nor have the honour of leading them into the promised Land Now if you do but look back to Numb 11.21 22. you will find Moses bewraying unbelief but privately before God And there the Lord only reasoneth him out of it v. 23. Is the Lord's hand waxed short Whereas in this other place when he smote the Rock twice his sin was publick here Moses and Aaron dishonour God in the view of the People wherefore the Lord clapt that smart sentence on their backs which no importunity in prayer could ever take off again or get reversed See Deut. 32.50 51. 2. Hereby the Truth and Wayes of God are much discredited They are deep wounds which the Truth receives in the house of its Friends It is long ere the scars wear out When any the professed followers of Christ and his Truth are taken tripping Religion it self must bear the blame and the way of Truth be evil spoken of This is their Religion say carnal men How earnestly doth the Apostle exhort Christians in general to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called Eph. 4.1 And Phil. 4.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel So likewise he layeth a strict charge here upon several sexes estates and conditions The younger women must take heed they give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully 1 Tim. 5.14 Servants that are under the yoke must see to carry so in their places that the Name of our God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Tim. 6.1 The aged women must be patterns of holiness setting others a good example that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Christians halting in the way causeth others to speak evil of the way of Christianity 3. The Kingdom of God and His Interest is by this means weakned It loses more by the haltings and falls of Professors ordinarily than by the fury of Persecuters As Jacob complained of his Sons cruelty
Candles and then to put them under bushels I do not remember that the like ever was heard or read of in England before that so many Ministers should have the doors shut upon them in a time when the Protestant Religion is professed and countenanced In the former times when Prelacy was Tyrannical though here one and there one had their mouths stopt so that they could not preach in their own places yet they might preach in another Extraordinary Eclipses usually presage some extraordinary Events The Lord alone knows what the the effects of this Great Eclipse will be And the rather this is to be look'd upon as a great affliction if we consider that we cannot tell when or whether or no there shall be a restauration of Pastors to their People How many poor People may cry out as in Psal 74.9 We see not our Prophets neither is there any amongst us that knoweth how long Well do but see Acts 20.37 38. and think how many Pauls are saying to their People this day Ye may see our faces no more and think how many weeping eyes and sad hearts there are Friends weep many times for a short parting when People are deprived of their Ministers they part with their best Friends 8ly Pray for the Faithful Minâ—sters of God both those that stay behind and especially for those that are constrained to depart 1 Thes 5.25 They have prayed for us many a time In every prayer of mine making mention of you all They have shed many a tear and sent up many a sigh They have mourned for your deadness and unteachableness They do now especially need your prayers 1. Pray that God would keep them stedfast They are Leaders of the People Pray they may not cause them to erre They have many temptations to sin they may be in necessities and that is a great temptation 2. That they may have counsel from God Both those that stay in and those that go out may be in the dark as to their own and the Churches affairs Pray therefore that God's Vrim may be with them both Pray that God would discover to both sorts of Ministers wherein they are defective in any thing that might or should be done and wherein either of them have exceeded that knowing their error they may repent 3. For provision Though bread be taken from their mouths pray God would provide some Obadiahs that may feed them though it be with bread and water In Deut. 10.9 we reade that because Levi had no inheritance amongst his brethren therefore the Lord promised to be his inheritance The Lord knows that many of Levi at this day have little or no inheritance amongst their brethren therefore pray that God himself would be their inheritance They are willing to leave House and Land for the sake of Christ and that they may keep a good and quiet conscience O beg that God would not leave them That seeing they are desirous to honour God that of him they may not be slighly esteemed 4. For their return That you may see their faces once more Rom. 1.10 That they may have a prosperous journey to you again if it be the Will of God If God delight in us he can bring his Priests into his Temple again he can bring Ministers to their People and People to their Ministers O beg that God would speed and hasten the time Plead with God the honour of his Name the necessity of his Church and the shortness of the lives of many of his Ministers Many of them are aged and at the most their dayes are like to be few and those that are younger know not how soon a period may be put to their lives O beg that they may not stand all their dayes idle The door is shut and bars are set so that they cannot enter into God's Vineyard as formerly O beg that the Lord would hasten the opening of the doors of the Temple for them and that he would break these bars assunder What the resolution of God is in this particular you and I know not however do you your duty and perform this office of Love to your Ministers and then let both them and you sit still and acquiesce with the same humble resolution that David had 2 Sam. 15.25 26. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me his habitation but if he thus say I have no delight in thee Lo here I am let him do to me as seemeth good to him So if God see it good for you and us he can and will restore us to his House again but if he say he hath no delight in us behold here we are let him do to us as seemeth good in his eyes We do acknowledge we are unworthy to be Priests any longer to him and that God can bring about his own glory though we were all really dead and if God should lay us aside all our life time as vessels in which he hath no pleasure we desire to submit And now Brethren not knowing when or whether or no you may see our faces again in a publick manner I bid you farewel Acts 20.32 Commending you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up And with the words of the Apostle in Heb. 13.18 19 20. Pray for us and the rather that we may be restored to you the sooner And the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ make you perfect in every good work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen SERMON XVI Zeph. 3.18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn Assemblies who are of Thee to whom the Reproach of it was a burden THe Prophet Zephaniah supposed by some Mayer ex Gualth cap. 1. v. 1. as the Prophet Isaiah was of a Family of some Note amongst the Jews some Noble were and are called prophesied in those times that bordered upon the Captivity which was Israels second Egypt and in regard that the body of the People were in his time corrupt and sensless he is a Son of Thunder unto them and in that there was in that corrupt body some sound members a few names that had not defiled their garments he is a Son of Consolation to them The body of the People would not believe enough to humble them nor the Faithful amongst them take in so much as to chear them The Prophets of those times found it little less difficult to prop up good men under their dejections than to throw down bad men castled in their own presumptions The most were perswaded that Captivity would never be and the best had much ado to believe it would ever end as appears by Jeremiah's Purchase Jer. 32.6 7 41 42 43 44. The Text is in the Promissory part of this Book The Prophet ascends the Mount of Blessing at the