Living Truths IN DYING TIMES SOME MEDITATIONS Upon Luk. 21.30 Occasioned by the present Judgement of the PLAGUE By THOMAS BLAKE Isa 26.21 For behold the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity c. Exod. 9.13 Let my people go that they may serve me Isa 27.7 Hath he smitten him as he smote those that smote him c. London Printed Anno Dom. 1665 To all that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity peace be multiplyed IT is a law of Customes making to usher in whatsoever is made publike by an Epistle That which invites me to this general Dedication is that of the Apostle in 1 Cor. 3.21 22. All things are yours whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas The abilities of the Saints are intended for the benefit of the Saints and those of a lower as well as of a higher Orbe he that hath but one Talent it is given him for the edification of the body as well as he that hath ten and therefore I am willing to cast my Mite into your Treasury Such who are taught of God are also taught to bear with whatever weakness may discover it self in the following Treatise If you will be at the pains to look it over you will find I hope truth useful though in a plain and homely dress Milk rather then meat for strong men and though but Milk yet my hope is It will be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sincere Milk as Peters expression is 1 Pet. 2.2 I have not at all endeavored to make things acceptable by flourishes of Wit and Learning being perswaded that that fire in which the Lords people have bin held now some years hath purged you from the dross of nice and curious appetites My design through the whole is to help you a little through the distresses of the present day and after that to present you without blame in the day of Christ I think I may say before the searcher of hearts my designs in this undertaking have been upright and as far as I am able to judge I have been drawn to â—â—is Publication by the over-ruling hand of the Lord in as much as such a thing was never in my thoughts untill eight parts of â—en of this little Treatise were finished The day in which we live is a scattering day and as the sad providences of the day drew me to consider the Text which I have enlarged upon so the scatterings of poor souls and the remembrance of absent friends whose faces I have not long seen into whose hands what I have written will I hope fall hath much engaged me to send it abroad Into what hand soever it shall come whether Saint or sinner the Lord who supplyeth seed to the Sower and Bread to the Eater bless this seed and make it useful to its intended ends as is the prayer of Tho. Blake LIVING TRUTHS IN DYING TIMES Some Meditations upon this Text Luk. 21.36 Watch therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man OUR Lord Jesus in this Chapter is laying down some certain fore-runners of the destruction of Jerusalem and of his own coming He is answering that question which you will find the Disciples put to him what the signs should be and what should be the fore-runners of the destruction of Jerusalem and also what should precede his own appearance and coming and he tells them that there should be providences very amazing and dreadful that should be the Antecedents of both So it is expressed in the 25 26. verses And there shall be signs in the Sun and in the Moon and in the Stars and upon the earth distress and distress not limited and consined to a little corner only but distress of Nations and the distress of Nations should have this effect Mens hearts should fail them for fear and for looking at the things that were coming on Now considering those things that were to come to pass our Lord subjoyns a serious and weighty piece of counsel for the directing of his own poor disciples what they were to do and how they were to carry it that ye have in the words I have read Watch ye c. In which words you have these three things observable among others 1. Dreadful things supposed and that you have in that expression These things that shall come to pass that is these wonderful amazing and tremendous providences that I have hinted to you 2. You have a double duty imposed and given in charge to the poor Disciples of Christ and that is Watchfulness and Prayer well saith he watch ye and pray I saith he and pray always not always in every time that is not the meaning but pray always in every season as the originall word is properly to be understood pray in every season be as much at it as you can get to it in every opportunity you can meet with and follow the work closely And then 3. You have a double end proposed to which these duties are a means and that is first The escaping the shock and weight of these dreadful providences And secondly after that the being enabled to stand before the Son of man For truely that is that we are to have a look unto and not onely to fix the eye upon and be anxious about present Dispensations and the weathering through such a storm but how to stand before the Son of man which will be more weighty and a greater and other kind of thing then any present providence can be it will have more of terror in it then any present providences can possibly have There are abundance of excellent truths would flow from this Scripture I shall content my self to collect four or five which I conceive to be the especial design of our Lord Jesus in these words and that through Grace may be especially useful to your souls 1. Then from hence I would commend to you this truth that there are certain times and seasons in which dreadful things sad providences must inavoidably break in upon the world this I gather thus All these things that shall come to pass as if he should have said There are sad things there are providences very grievous such as shall make the heart to ake and trembling to possess the spirits of most men upon the face of the earth yet saith he they are such as must come to pass if all the Angels in heaven stood up to prevent the breaking in of these providences there is an unavoidable necessity of it come they must 2. I would note that in and under these dreadful providences the God of heaven is especially thoughtful for and careful about his own people when he thrusts these providences into the world I say the Lord is especially thoughtful of and careful about his own people this I suppose also to be fairly gathered from this Scripture Watch ye and pray saith he
weighty thing as I purpose to shew anon This is that the Lord saies in this Scripture Do what you may watch and pray and use the best means you can to escape in a day of calamity but remember when that is done all is not done nor is the great thing done remember after all whether you stand or fall in a calamity you must stand before the Son of man If you fall in a calamity that will not end all It is appointed to all men once to dye and after that the judgement if you do escape a calamity there will be a time when you must stand before the Son of man so that whether you stand or fall that is not the main thing nor especially considerable business but the great and main thing about which you are to be especially careful is how you may do to look Christ in the face at last how you may do to hold up your head before the Son of man Standing before the Son of man is taken three ways in Scripture 1. Meerly for appearing before him for appearing at his Tribunal so it is taken sometimes in the Scriptures for instance that in the Rom. 14.10 We shall all appear before his â—udgement-seat So 2 Corinth 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ c. Revel 20.12 vers And I saw the dead both small and great stand before God c. That is the first sence it is taken in in Scripture meerly for appearing before the Son of man 2. To stand before him it is taken for an estate of honour and promotion as to stand before a Pâ—ince we reckon such a person is preferred and highly honoured as it was said of Solomon's servants Happy are thy servants which stand continually before thee and hear thy Wisdom as you have it 2 Chron. 9.7 And thirdly it is taken for standing with joy and comfort and boldness and it is upon that accompt that you have that expression Psal 1.5 The ungodly shall not stand in the judgement nor sinners in the Congregation of the Righteous They shall stand in one sence though not in another they shall all stand in it so as to come to it but they shall not stand with comfort so as to hold up their heads standing here is opposed to adjection of spirit of falling before the dreadful Majesty of God and our Saviour They shall not stand that is such dread shall seize upon their souls that they shall not be able to lift up their heads they shall be so filled with confusion and shame that they shall not be able to hold up their heads in that day So standing before the Son of man is taken in this sence in my Text especially that you may be able to stand before the Son of man is that you may be able to stand before him with comfort that you may lift up your head with joy when the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear In the prosecution of this great truth I shall propound the consideration of several things to you and I would do it so as I may best keep to the design of the text as the Lord shall inable me 1. I would indeavor to shew you that the standing before Christ is a much more serious and weighty thing then any calamity in this world can be whatever dread there is upon the heart at the thoughts of a calamity we may have much more fear and many more thoughts of heart upon the account of standing before the Son of man at his appearance and Kingdom 2. I shall indeavour to shew you that they that will not tremble at a judgement that they that are like to laugh a calamity in the face will yet tremble when the Son of man shall appear that will put such out of countenance as are not abashed by any calamity they meet with in the world 3. I shall shew you who they are that shall never be able to stand before the S n of man 4. Who they are and what they must be that shall stand before him And fifthly What is the best frame a soul can be in in oâ—der to a meeting with Châ—ist with the greatest confidence and boldness And sixthly and lastly conclude all in a little Application But first of the fiâ—st namely to shew you that the standing before Christ is a much more serious and weighty thing and ought to be more seriously thought of and more solemnly provided for then any common calamity whatsoever Many gracious hearts do tremble at the thoughts of a common calamity and truely there is reason why they should do so David himself did thus Psal 119.120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee and I am afraid of thy judgements but you shall find that sometimes sinners themselves do tremble more and are much more affected with the thoughts of induring the presence of Christ then the bearing up under any common calamity that can befall them Isa 33.13 saies the Spirit of God there Hear ye that are afar off what I have done and ye that are neer acknowledge my might that is in my judgements which I execute saies he consider them see what weight and force there is in them But mark how is it with sinners in vers 14. The sinners in Sion are afraid Afraid of what Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrite What is he afraid of Who shall stand before the devouring fire who shall dwell with everlasting burnings as if they should have said There is a might and there is a power and majesty of God appearing and shining forth in all his judgements but if you would have us speak our hearts and tell what we dread most it is standing before him in that great day when he shall appear as a devouring fire it is the being able to hold up the head at that season that doth distress us most and fill us with dread and fear I say the standing in the day of Christ is a much more difficult thing then the standing in a common calamity and I shall shew you in several particulars how that day will out-do every thing that can be in a common calamity I shall shew it you in eleven or twelve particulars 1. The day of Christ is more dreadful then a calamity in this respect that every calamity in this world is a call to repentance but the day of Christs appearance is onely a call unto judgement I say calamities in this world they are calls to repentance to a sinful people to return the voice of the word is the first call and sinners are deaf and will not hear that call and therefore God sounds an alarm by his judgements and by them he calls unto poor sinners to repent and turn unto him but now I say in the day of Christ there is no call unto repentance nor place for repentâ—nce he onely then calls to judgement you shall find calamities are calls to repentance and that is the fruit that God expects from them
of sin as appears by that Malach. 2.17 VVhy say they what great matter have we done to weary God VVhy saies God you have sinned and thereby you have wearied me and yet ye cry VVherein have we wearied thee we can tell no great hurt we have done thee This is the guise of sinners but the time will come when Christ shall appear and then sinners shall be convinced of sins in the 15 vers of Jude To execute judgement c. VVhat will Christ do when he comes he will come to convince them of their sins of all their ungodly deeds and to shew them what sinfulness there is in their sin And now I say when sinners shall see and be convinced of the sinfulness of sin that will make them tremble that will awaken them and that will be done when Christ comes 4. Because then they shall have all their misconceivings and false apprehensions of God removed It is true it may be sinners think there is a God but yet such a God as an Idol would make they have such misconceptions of him which will then be effectually removed if they think that he is a God yet a God that doth not see and observe all that they do Psal 94.6 7. They slay c. Yet they say He shall not see he is a God but such an one as an Idol might make a God but a God at a distance that doth not trouble himself with our concernment So Psal 10.10 11. He croucheth and humbleth himself that the poor may fall by his strong ones This is that that sinners say Suppose we grant he be God and doth see what we do yet he will not trouble himself to call us to an account for every thing that we do so you have it in the 13. vers He hath said in his heart Thou wilt not require it These are the misconceptions that sinners have of God either he will not see or if he do he will not regard he will not call to account but now how will sinners be startled when they shall fiâ—â—â— there is a God and all their misapprehensions of him are confuted Revel 6. the later end They shall call untâ—â—hâ— Rocks to fall on them and to the Mountaiâ—◠〈◊〉 cover them from the presence of the Lâ—mâ— â—â—â—o shall appear as a Lyon and 〈◊〉 that sits upon the Throne and Psal 58. last vers So that a man shall say Verily thâ—â—e is a reward for the righâ—eous verily 〈◊〉 is a God that judgeth in the earth Once it may be they said There is â—o God or if there be a God he seeth not and will not judge but now they shall say Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth This is that that will make them tremble exceedingly 5. This shall fill them with trembling that they shall find they are not able to bear up against the glory and majesty of that day so Rev. 6. latter end Hide us from the wrath of the Lamb and him that sitteth upon the throne they shall see that infinite dread in the wrath of the Lamb that they shall not be able to stand up under so Isa 3.14 Who shall stand before a devouring fire who shall dwell with everlasting burning 6. And sixtâ—ly and lastly Sinners that did not dread judgement shall dread the appearance and coming of Christ for then they will be overcome and stricken down with desperate despairing thoughts they will find their condition then incurable for ever they make light of their estate for present but they will then find it past remedy for ever now I would say this If there be any sinners so stupid that present judgements do not affect them I would say let them alone untill Christ comes The third thing propounded to shew who they are that shall never be able to stand before the Son of man Doubtless my friends it is a very great honor to be accounted worthy to stand before Jesus Christ If the Queen of Sheba could say and that upon some ground to Solomon Happy are thy men and happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee to hear thy wisdom How much more may we say Happy are thy men and happy are thy servants O Lord Jesus who shaâ—l stand before thee to hear thy wisdom to shâ—re with thee in thy glory and to behold thy face to all eternity surely that is a far greater honour therefore in Psal 15.1 David puts the question Who shall abide in thy tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy hill the tabeâ—nacle of God and the holy hill of God is both thâ— place where his worship was of old and it is also put for heaven sometimes in Scripture and in both there is the presence of God and of his Christ he is met withall in his worship and most of all and most eminently in glory but now says the Psalmist Who shall stand in thy holy place who shall stand in thy presence Where shalâ—â—hâ—â—e be any found that shall be dignified with this honor What soâ—t of people must they be that thou wilt thus promote Doubtless there are very many that shall never be able to stand before Christ Luk. 13.23 the question was put Are there few that shall be saved Christ answers Strive to enter in at the streight gate for many I say unto you shall seek and shall not be able to enter and hence it is that it is said Mat. 7.22 23. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord c. Now in treating on the fourth who they are that shall not stand I shall shew you that there are ten sorts of persons that will never be able to stand before the Son of man The Lord grant we may not be of that number 1. Ungodly sinners openly prophane who spend their days without any awe of God upon them they are persons never like to be honored by Christ in his day and at his appearance and coming Psal 1.5 The ungodly shall not stand not stand in the judgement c. the ungodly such as live in a negâ—ect of Duty the sinners such as live â—n the acting of all impiety saith he these shall not stand in the judgement 1 Pet. 4.18 If the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the sinner and ungodly appear If they find some difficulty in ascending the mount of glory what then shall sinners do doubtless they will never be able to stand in the presence of Christ 2. Such as promote and incourage sin in others they are not like to be owned and honored and promoted by Christ in his day some there are that are such and so good factors for the Devil that they wonderfully promote his trade in the world and as a recompence of all their trouble they shall receive the salary of eternal misery whatever souls they are that are so in love with sin and the ways and works thereof that they help it on and further it by what means they can must never expect
this is much our wisdom and will much advantage in the day of Christ the preserving also a very holy conversation Phil. 3.20 saies the Apostle Our conversation is in heaven from whence we look for a Saviour And if thou art looking for a Saviour in earnest keep thy conversation in heaven Now our conversations being in heaven it implies both the maintaining communion and friendship and concord between God and us and also a holy and upright conversation He that lives in heaven keeps his peace with God and he that lives in heaven walks closely with God such a frame as that becomes one that looks for Christ and waits for his appearance that is most certain Titus 2.14 The Apostle there is telling what is the Expectation of the Saints 13. vers Looking for saies he that blessed hope c. How did they carry it in this time of their hope and expectation Why they were taught to Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and in such a posture they did Look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God 1 Pet. 13.14 Gird up the loyns of your mindes be sober and hope unto the end c. He wishes them to look for the appearance and coming of Christ but what posture must they be in while they are thus looking Why as obedient Children c. 5. And longing of soul for his appearance and coming is also necessary that is it that is in Scripture called A waiting for it is a waiting with desire and longing last of Canticles and the last vers Make hast my Beloved and be as a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Spices The soul thinks the coming of Christ long Revel 22.21 He that saith these things testifieth Behold I come quickly even so come Lord Jesus That is the frame the soul should be in to be still crying Come Lord Jesus And thus I have given you what I intended in answer to the fifth thing What is the best frame the soul can be in in order to its meeting with Christ with the greatest comfort and boldness As firstâ— to have the love of Christ witnessed and sealed up unto the soul by the Spirit of God 2. To be disingaged from this world and all the intanglements and incumbrances thereof 3. To have Grace in its exercise 4. Communion with God and a holy conversation maintained and kept up 5. Raised desires and longing of soul for his appearance The Application of the Point onely remains And I shall be brief in what I add more 1. If it be a truth as I have indeavoured to make it good that standing before Christ is so serious and weighty a thing The Use of the Point will be in three or four things some of which will concern us all The first Use would be to put us a little upon inquiry Where are you what posture are you in what preparation have we made for that solemn day what have we done that may fit us to stand before the Son of man It will be a day of great solemnâ—ty great will be the Majesty of that Day and how fares it with us Can we say that Christ is become our Friend that we have made peace with God through him that all controversies between God and our souls are taken up and â—ompounded The counsel that is giâ—en Mat. 25.25 Agree with thy adversary quickly while he is in the way â—ith him is very good There is enmiâ—y between God and man by nature â—he counsel given is to compound and â—ake up the breach and that is to be â—one while we are in the way with him â—f we let it alone until the coming of Christ we shall be delivered unto the Officer and by him be hurried to prison from whence we shall not be delivered for ever And therefore it is a very serious question which you had all need to put to your souls whether you have â—eceived Christ and made sure of him that so all differences between God and you be compounded and made up that you may be able to hold up your â—eads in the great and notable day of tâ—e Lord for such it will be and so it is called in the Word of Truth I have already shewed you what kind of persons they must be that shall stand before Christ that it must be one that hath renounced his own righteousness and put on Christs Righteousness and is renewed in the inner man and bound in spirit for God desirous to be found in his Will both by doing and suffering you may reflect upon what hath been said and consult your spirits thereby But here you will say Whether have I received Christ or no that is that that sticks with me and I cannot answer that to my own satisfaction Why consider Oh soul thou mayst know it by the precious thoughts and high esteem thou hast of Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 To you therefore which believe he is precious and you may turn it thus You to whom Christ is precious you believe in him You say He is precious and worth a world but whether he be yours that is the question Why souls I tell you if your hearts be in love with him it is because he first loved you and thou canst not have a true love unto Christ without the work of his Spirit 2. You may know it by those holy breathings you have after more oâ— likeness and conformity to him this is certain the soul of this Saint is noâ— what it should be but is longing to be what it is not pressing after more of Christ and the Image of God There was a time when Paul thought that he had enough and was in an excellent â—ood condâ—â—â—â—â—â— but Goâ—â—â—ught him to â—e it wa◠〈◊〉 â—uch matter Râ—m 7.9 I â—as â—â—ieâ— Pâ—â—â— â—â—ve once without the law but â—â—eâ— the commandment came ◠〈…〉 the Law â—â—me in its understanâ—â—â—g â—nd in 〈◊〉 Applicâ—â—ion when he waâ— able to underâ—â—â—nd â—he Law in its exteâ—â— and spiriâ—â—â—lity and apply it to himself then â—e found he had a great deal of sin and little of God in him then he comeâ— to â—ee his wretchedness to groâ—n under his burthen and this cannot be but wheâ—e the soul hath received life from Christ How is it with thee dost thou see thy filthiness and groan under thy burthen It is a great sign â—f so â—nd a token for good that there is a principle of new Life of new and spiritual life communicated to thee and that thou hast received life fâ—om Christ who is the Fountain of Life and of it thou mayst assure thy self 3. From that holy awe and dread thaâ— is upon thy heart lest thou shouldest bâ— left to sin against and dishonour Goâ— Where there is a closing with Christ iâ— earnest there is an awe of God arisinâ— from a sense of duty and from a sence 〈◊〉 goodness Hosea 3.5 where it is spoken concerning the Jewish people aâ— the time of their Conversion
that he doth preserve are usually such as he doth mean to honor with himself for ever or if he do honor others with this mercy it is for the sake of those that he intends to honor with himself for ever There was a kind of typâ—fying â—ut of this in the slaying the first-born of Egypt At that time who must be preserved Why Israel Now all Israel were Types of Gods own people and in that God did Typically foretell what he would do in aftertime especially in the latter times that his saved ones should be his true Israel There is a Scripture I will recommend to you make what use of it the Lord shall help you Isa 4.3 And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem Now what time doth this relate unto It was a time of great destruction as you have it Chap. 3.26 Her gates shall lament and mourn and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground and in vers 25. Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty men in war Now in this desolation some shall escape and who shall they be What sort of men shall they be Mark what he says and make of it as much as the Lord shall help you they that escape of Israel they that are left in Sion and they that remain in Jerusalem shall be called holy that is shall be holy for God calls things as they are or he will make them to be what he calls them And is that all No such as are written among the living or as the word may be rendred such as are written to life in Jerusalem written to life is the same with being written in the Lambs book of life such as he will make holy they shall be the escaped they shall be preserved I will give you another text Mat. 24.22 It speaks of the tribulations of the latter times most dreadful things And what then Except these days be shortned no flesh shall be saved They should be such as should cut off every soul from the earth but God hath an elect upon whom his heart is set and for their sakes it shall be shortned The meaning of the text I take to be this there shall be dreadful tribulations in the latter days such as if they were let run on their course would cut off every soul but they shall be so cut short that a people written unto life shall out-live them And if this be so surely it is a great honor to out-live common calamities especially in the latter days into which we are come or unto which we are drawing nigh apace But one thing more a third argument is this it is an honorable thing to have preservation in times of common calamity if you consider That such who are so preserved are preserved to very honourable ends God doth not preserve them for nothing but to very honorable ends the Prophet Isa 66. tells us of dreadful providences vers 15 16. For behold the Lord will come with fire c. Well shall any escape at that day Yes there shall if you look to vers 14. And when ye see this your heart shall rejoyce c. The hand of the Lord that shall be known to his friends for their preservation to his enemies for their destruction but to what end will he reserve them that he doth preserve That you have in vers 19. I will set a sign among them and I will send those that escape of them to the nations the escaped people what shall they be for They shall be to make known set up and advance the glory of God and to tell of his wondrous workings I confess that I conceive this text doth relate to the Jewish Nation but there shall be a remnant preserved and the reserved are reserved to honorable ends to make known much of God to reveal and speak of his glory To which add that Jer. 50. 28. you read of some that escaped theâ—e in that day of distress and what do they escape for It is to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord they are a remnant reserved to speak the praise of God to magnifie and admire him in the dispensations of his providence and therefore being reserved to honorable ends it is an honorable preservation That is the first thing in the Doctrine 2. As it is an honor so it is an especiall mercy to be preserved in times of publike judgements it is not like the honor of this world which is but an empty blast of breath but such as is a mercy as well as an honor and Oh how great is the mercy of surviving and out-living common calamities I shall briefly shew you it is great mercy and it will be evidenced in the consideration of six or seven particulars 1. It appears to be so from the thankfulness of those that have been preserved You shall find some souls have been much taken with the goodness of God and have admired his kindness in the delivering a people from common calamity David in his time under a common distress how doth he admire the grace of God that shined forth in his preservation What saith David they cut off and I alive What have I done these sheep what have they done Ezra 9.7 8. here was a reserved people a people bâ—ought back from Captivity and what doth Ezra say Oh saith he it is great grace there is abundance of mercy in it that we should be preserved that the Lord should keep us alive and hath not suffered us to fall in our bondage but hath given us a nail in his house Now the thankfulness of a people delivered from such calamiâ—y is a great ground to think it a great mercy Jer. 20.13 Sing unto the Lord praise ye the Lord for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evil doers Now that I say that the people of God are so thankful for and do praise God for certainly it is a great mercy 2. It is a great mercy to be preserved in common calamities if you consider this well that though God may find some honoâ—able things upon his people that he is pleased to honor with preservation yet if he would look throughly he might find something in them that might provoke him to let them fall with others It is true God when he doth preserve doth find something honorable upon those that he doth preserve it is so for the most part as he found faith in Jeremiah a relying and recumbency upon him and therefore honored him with preservation In Psal 91. the Lord found three things honorable upon a people to which he annexeth a promise of preservation one you have vers 9 10. He finds faith there and that he honors with a promise of preservation and in the 11 12. He shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy
ways Here he finds a people walking wiâ—h him and therefore he promiseth them preservation Now if God do find any thing of excellence upon a people yet how often is it cold and dead and at a very low ebb if he finds faith How much of unbelief is there in the soul Also if he finds him walking with God how much turning aside And is it not great mercy that God is yet pleased to crown them with preservation because he finds but some small matter of excellency upon them You shall see how David speaks Psal 130.3 If thou shouldest mark iniquities Oh Lord who shall stand That is if thou comest to search us throughly and resolvest to do according to all that thou seest in us who then shall stand But it is the kindness of God that he doth not mark all iniquity and doth not look upon every miscarriage of his poor people he covers mâ—ny of them therefore in Lam. 3. how much are they there taken with Gods mercy It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not vers 22. 3. It is a great mercy if you consider Gods preservations are special kindnesses a great deal of love goes therewith Hezakiah when he was sick of the Plague God carryeth him through it he did not let him fall by it and what saith he Isa 38.17 Thou hast not let me fall but hast kept me and thou hast done it in love to my soul And to this add that 2 King 19.30 31. Mark it the Assyrian I think it was that did hardly bestead poor Israel who were greatly distressed by them well but saith God Out of Sion shall go a remnant and some shall escape but how Why the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform it That is his love and care shall be ingaged for a remnant so that it is great mercy to be preserved and that because God doth preserve in great kindness 4. It is a great mercy if you consider that God oft shews a great deal of mercy to the souls of them that do escape in Isa 4. you see what a mercy the Lord shews and what good he doth upon the souls of those that should remain in Sion in vers 4. The escaped remnant shall not carry their dross along with them but God will take away their dross and do away their filth this shall be the mercy of this escaping remnant and so Mal. 3.2 3. Who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Why what is it makes that day so terrible Oh this is it He shall sit as a refiners fire and as Fullers soap In vers 6. Oh saith he when I come in my dreadful calamities and judgements Jacob shall not be consumned Why not what shall then be done upon him He will take away their dross and their Tynn and purifie them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness and truely this is more then to escape to escape is not so much as to escape it and your corruption too to be out of trouble and freed from sin too this is a mercy of mercies 5. Great mercy to preserved in and through a common calamity in as much as it gives farther opportunity to get the soul into a better order to mourn over past miscarriages for the soul of the best and the frame of the best had need be better and he â—hat out-lives a calamity lives to a farther opportunity of getting his heart better prepared saith David Oh spare me a little that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen Length of time is an advantage to getting more of strength and they that are wise whom God hath delivered they should improve it Ezek. 6.8 9. Yet will I leave a remnant c. This improvement shall the escaping remnant make of their escaping they shall mourn over theiâ— hearts and ways at a greater rate then ever So Ezek. 7.16 But they that escape of them shall escape and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys all of them mourning every one for his iniquity The best of Saints I am perswaded that God carries through common calamity they do there thence take opportunity of looking into their hearts more throughly and bemoaning them in the presence of God They shall mourn every one for his iniquity and is not this a mercy to have a reserve of time to mourn over their waies in the presence of God 6. It is a mercy if you consider the reserved people are a reconciled people usuâ—lly God is well pleased with them and pacified towards them as Hezekiah said in the text I quoted to you just now Isa 38.17 Behold for peace I had great bitterness but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back This is usually Gods method a people that he reserves through calamity to them he pardons all iniquity with them he is at peace and unto them he is pleased graciously to be reconciled So Jer. 50.20 I will pardon them whom I reserve I will not onely reserve them but I will pardon them that is a mercy and double mercy to be a reserved and a pardoned people 7. It is a great mercy to be preserved through publike calamities if you consider God often makes the issue of it the inabling the soul to be more for God and to walk more with him than ever at former times Isa 37.31 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downwards and bear fruit upward It hath a spiritual as well as a litteral sence no doubt They shall be a rooted people and also a fruitful people it is a mercy when God makes the issue of these Dispensations the purging of us to make us bring forth more fruit the fire of affliction a means for their purging and consequently of their bearing more fruit to thâ— praise of God So Isa 10.20 21. And it shall come to pass in that day the remnant shall return even the remnant of Jacob to the mighty God We are apt to be running from God but there shall be an escaping remnant and what shall the issue of it be They that return unto the Lord God shall have more of their hearts then ever he had before This is a great mercy and doubtless the soul should admire it and seek it which leads me to the third thing in the Doctrine namely that it is that that gracious souls should put out hard after to be delivered and preserved in the times of publike calamities You shall find sometimes the people of Goâ— have been very earnest for the dive â—â—ng a judgement for the taking of it off if it might be that was the case of Abraham Oh how he pleads for poor Sodom And in times when that cannot be prevailed for how do
foolishness It was you see a very short prayer and yet if you look to Chap. 17.23 you shall find how it was succeeded He went home and hanged himself because his counsel was not followed And thus you find in other cases prayer hath brought down judgement upon a people the single prayer of the Prophet Elijah brought down judgement upon all Israel 1 King 17.1 As the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my words that is according to my prayer and Elias you read in Jam. 5.17 he prayed down a judgement for three years and sâ—x months He prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not for the space of three years and six moneths And let me tell you all the dreadful judgements that come upon the world they come down as an answer to the prayer of the people of God Look Psal 65.5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us c. I quote this for this purpose to tell you that the terrible judgements that fall upon the world they do come in answer to the prayer of the Saints yea let me tell you this very judgement on foot at this day at which our hearts do tremble it comes in answer to the prayer of the people of God I mean thus the people of God have prayed that God would promote his interest that he would advance the scepter of his Son that he would pull down his enemies and they leave him to do it which way he pleaseth Now this is Gods way to advance his interest and you will find it so and I say moreover the dreadful things that shall be in the world and shall come upon the heads of the ungodly of the world they come all in answer to the prayer of the Saints The ninth Psalm is a Psalm concerning Antichrist the great destroyeâ— Well what saies it of him in vers 11 12. Sing praises to the Lord which dwelleth in Sion when he maketh inquisition for blood he remembreth them he forgetteth not the cry of the humble There is a time saith David when he will make inquisition for blood that is when he will contend with Antichrist the great destroyeâ— for all the slaughter that hath been made upon his people he will come and recompence them for this blood and which way shall it come to pass He forgetteth not the cry of the humble he heareth them and that stirreth him up to make inquisition for blood so that I say many great judgements that have been in the world they have many times come in answer to the prayer of the Saints Again 2. Prayer it sometimes prevents the evil we fear Jacob in the instance given but now had a great deal of fear upon him Gen. 32.6 7 11 12. he was greatly distressed and then he goeth to prayer and what cometh of it in Chap. 33.4 Esau ran to meet him and falls on his neck and kisses him here was the worst of their meeting he thought verily Esau would have come to kill him and therefore set himself to seek the Lord and â—hen God prevented his fear for Esau fell on his â—eck and kissed him Thus God sometimes prevents the thing that we fear and so in 2 Chron. 20. in the case of Jehosaphat when many Nations combine to fight against him vers 3. Jehosaphat feared and what then He set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast thorow out all Judah And what came of it truly God delivered him very wonderfully in vers 17. Yee shall not need to fight in this battle c. And God makes those men that came against him to destroy one another at vers 12. I quote all this to this end onely to tell you what great work and mighty service sometimes prayer doth it helps to keep off the things that we fear 3. It helps to remove the evils we feel as well as prevents what we fear you know when Israel was in bondage what was a means to help them out Exod. 2.23 They cryed and their cry came up they cryed and it was not in vain for God heard them their praying and seeking his face it did not prove fruitless in Judges 5. you have a notable expression of Deborah O my soul thou hast troden down strength the people of Israel were greatly oppressed and dealt hardly with and there were some stirred up to go out and oppose but what got the victory Oh saith she My soul thou hast trodden down strength It was her souls going to God in prayer it was that did the work and it was instrumental for the removing that great oppression that was upon them and therefore the Prophet in Isa 10. When he foretells their deliverance from the yoak of the Assyrian bondage saith he the yoak shall be destroyed because of the anointing vers 27. that evil shall be removed How by the anointing one part of the sense whereof is that a part of the spirit of grace and supplication should be powred forth on the people they should plead with God and because of that anointing they should be delivered Psal 40.1 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and cryed unto him and he inclined unto me and heard my cry he prayed and God heard him and this was the issue He brought me up also c. vers 2 3. that is a third thing it delivers from many evils felt as well as feared 4. It prevails for strength to stand up under and grapple with great difficulty when God thinks not fit to remove difficulty then the soul prays for strength to stand up under those difficulties Isa 40.31 They that wait on the Lord shall â—enew their strength c. they may have difficulty but if they wait on the Lord they shall have strength as well as difficulty Psal 138.3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me and strengthnedst me with strength in my soul David was under many difficulties and streights but yet in calling upon the Lord the Lord gave him strength to which add that Heb. 11.34 That some out of weakness were made strong that is the fourth thing that Prayer doth 5. It prevails also for preservation in common calamities that mercy Jeremiah had in a way of Prayer Chap. 17. he doth address himself unto God by prayer in vers 17. Be not a terror unto me thou art my hope in the day of evil And God gave him a promise of preservation and was with him according to his promise Thus you see what great things prayer doth 1. It hath pulled down dreadful judgments 2. Prevented evils feared 3. Removed evils fâ—lt 4. Prevailed for strength to bear up under difficulties And 5. Prevailed also for preservation in times of great distress To the third thing Then how comes prayer to bâ—â—seful for our preservation in common calamity It comes to be useful in that as in all other cases these four or five wayes 1. From a
Christ to befriend them at that day I shall only make a little allusion to that Text that you have Matt. 22.30 When the question was put to Christ concerning the woman that had seven Husbands in the Resurrection whose wife should she be Answer is made In the Resurrection they neither marry nor give in marriage all Relation then ceaseth the friend that was unto thee as thy own soul and thou as dear unto him in the day of Christ unless there be any spiritual tye unless you and he have union with God in Christ he will have no pitty no tenderness for you but you must stand alone to receive a sentence from the Lord. 11. There is this farther difference any outward calamity though never so sharp may be of short continuance the hand of God may light upon thee in such a dispensation as is now abroad and in a few days it may send thee to another world or the extremity of it may be passed over in a little time but when thou comest to stand before the judgement-seat of Christ the issue of that dâ—y will last to all eternity Mat. 25.32 Before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as the shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats and what shall the issue of this separation be In vers 46. These shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal eternity will be the result and product of thy standing before the judgement-seat of Christ calamity outward distress may soon come to a period but standing before Christ will reach thy everlasting condition And 12. This difference there is also between common calamity and standing before Christ in that the utmost dread and worst part of outward calamity is this that it lets thee in unto the dreadful tribunal of Christ wherefore do you fear or any that are in fear of a judgement but onely because possibly you consider that that may let the soul in to the judgement-seat of Christ but now the dread of the judgement-seat of Christ is this in that it determines thy estate for ever I say the dread of any calamity lyeth in this that possibly it may bring thee to death and so let thee in to judgement but this is the dread of standing before the judgement-seat of Christ it lets thee into an everlasting state to the passing of a sentence not to be revoked for ever God many times threatens in outward calamities and afterwards repeals it Hos 11.8 How shall I give thee up Oh Ephraim c. God was determining to make Ephraim as Admah and to set him as Zeboim that is to cut him off in a judgement and by destruction But how shall I do it saies God His bowells were turned in him he repented him of the evil and he was troubled for what he had done so in Jonah 9. the people repented and the Lord repented of the evil and was pleased to revoke the sentence he had passed upon that City of Niniveh So in Amos 4. you have mention made of the Lords repenting that is some judgement or other he was thinking to send upon a people and yet he revokes the sentence and resolves it should not come upon them but when you come to stand before the judgement-seat of Christ you shall receive a sentence there that shall stand for ever it shall stand without any recalling And thus I have briefly dispatched the first thing propounded to shew you that to stand before the Son of Man is a much more weighty and serious thing then standing under any temporal calamity I do not speak thus to make you slight any temporal or common stroke but onely to raise up your hearts to a much more serious thoughtfulness about the standing before the Son of man and to shew you that that is a thing much more weighty which leads me to the second thing propounded for the prosecution of this Point namely that secure sinners that are so confident that they can laugh the most dreadful calamity in the face they shall be made serious and brought to tremble in the day of Christ They shall finde it to be no laughing matter Indeed the Servants of God sometimes are said to laugh at calamity but it is in a good sense Job 5.20 21 22. In famine he shall redeem thee c. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh but you must know the sense of that expression here is this they shall not make light of a calamity they shall consider the dread and Majesty of God that shines forth in it but when they consider their security through the goodness of God they shall look upon calamity as that that is not able to touch them Such may be the safety and security of the Saints and Servants of God through his kindness that they may laugh at a calamity as a thing that shall not be able to come nigh them Such is the wretchedness and the hardness of the hearts of sinners that the most startling judgements do not awaken them let God threaten they are not moved And therefore you shall finde what the Lord by the Prophet complains of as a great evil Wo unto them that draw iniquity with the cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart-rope Isaiah 5.19 20. Mark what it is They say Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it It was a taunting and deriding speech wherewith this people mocked the Prophet he tells them that judgement would come Come say they let us see what he will do It was a daring and insulting speech And by the way let me tell you what the reason is of the desperate sinfulness of sinners in time of Gods judgement They draw saith he iniquity with the cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart-rope that is they sin as fast as they can they do not minde the judgements of God if they did they would put a check upon them they fear not come what will they think it will be well enough with them That this is the guise of sinners you shall see 2 Chron. 36.16 But they mocked the Messengers of God c. Let the Lord threaten what he will they for their parts were not concerned with it they mocked the Messengers despised the Prophets and all the judgements of God were light in their accounts And it is no wonder that sinners fear not judgement for they fear not sin which is a thing that is much more dreadful then judgement if rightly considered Prov. 14.9 Fools make a mock at sin And the very appearance of Christ himself the most dreadful of all dispensations before it comes sinners will but mock and scoff at it as you have it 2 Pet. 3. saies he They will scoff at the coming of Christ at the great Day of the Lord they will but make a mock of it and say Where is the Christ you talk of we see no preparation
24.5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation I shall take this description in parts and clear up every part of it and shall beg of you to put the question unto your own hearts How far you can experience such a VVork of God upon your own spirits 1. He that shall be accounted worthy to stand before the Son of man is one that hath denyed and renounced his own righteousness he is one that is brought to see he hath no righteousness of his own and therefore desires to give up all the thoughs of hanging upon any righteousness of his own whatever He is one I say that seeth he hath no righteousness of his own and that sight ariseth from the sight of his Original pollution and of his actual departure from the Lord he sees his Original pollution and that makes him cry out as Job Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one It makes him cry out as David Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me And the soul also seeth its own actual departure from the Lord and that makes it cry out as they in Isai 64.6 We are all as an unclean thing and also all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags This you shall finde is the spirit that the people of God have been found in they have put off their own righteousness turned their backs upon it Paul once thought he had as much as others and as we use to say Thought his peny was as good silver as anothers He thought he was in as good a condition as the best but you have him crying out in Phil. 3.7 What things I counted gain those I count lâ—ss for Christ Outward priviledges gifts dâ—ties whatever he thought would stand him in stead in times past he laies it down and calls it but dung and dross And souls this frame we must be in or we are not like else to stand before Christ with comfort If any man will come after me he must deny himself That is it that Christ calls for that is Christs Rule He must deny himself Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after Christ and end where he did that is in Glory The first thing is He must deny himself and nothing can be more properly called our selves then our own righteousness and this you must abjure this you most resolve not to own And that Text is commonly quoted to this purpose Mat. 25.22 c. Now my Friends consider what have been the dealings of God with your spirits what have you experienced of such workings upon your soul Have you been brought to see your own natural pollution the defilement of your souls with guilt and filth by nature and have you been brought to see your turnings from God in your whole course and hath it wrought this upon you to see that you have nothing of your own to commend you to God that all in you and all without you is but what may be a provocation to the Divine Majesty and that you do renounce it all as dung and dross 2. You must put on Christs Râ—ghteousness for the putting off your own will not do it you must have a righteousness the putting off your own must be followed with the putting on of Christs and with that you may be able to stand before the Lord in the great day This you finde is our Duty and that to which we are called Mat. 11.28 Come unto me Coming unto Christ it is believing taking hold of his Righteousness It is not enough that you know there is a Righteousness held forth a Righteousness offered but it must be taken you must put on Christ as the phrase of Scripture is Paul you finde did thus in that Phil. 3.7 I count all dung for Christ and in the 8. vers Yea doubtless I count all loss c. All loss for Christ and in the 9. vers you have the reason that I may be found in him not having my own righteousness c. Mark he made it his business not only to put off his own but to put on Christs Righteousness that was his care And this I say will do the work the soul standing clad with the Robes of Christs Righteousness will stand with comfort in the day of Christ I will recommend to your consideration that Revel 7 9. you read of A great multitude which no man could number that stood before the Throne and stood before the Lamb clothed with white and palms in their hands And who are they that are thus before the Throne In the 13 14. verses he tells you They were they that had washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and in the next vers he adds Therefore are they before the Throne they had washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb That is they had the Robes of Righteousness that were purchased by the Blood of Christ and the Righteousness of Christ was found upon them and upon this account they stood before the Lamb and hence in Mat. 22.11 12. When the feast was made and the King comes to view his guests he saith unto one of them How comest thou in hither not having on a Wedding-garment He wanted the Righteousness of Christ that was the Wedding-garment that not being found upon him he must be cast out to be a companion of them that knew not God Now this is the question Have you put off your own Righteousness and put on Christs without which there is no standing with which you may and will stand before the Son of man What is the answer of your hearts in this case You will say It is a hard matter to determine whether I have put on Christs Righteousness or no. I answer Whether it be hard or easie to determine whether you have done it or no yet this is concluded on that it must be done if we would stand before Christ but a little to help you before I leave it consider these two things 1. Consider that the putting on the Righteousness of Christ it is but one act The soul seeth a Beauty and Excellency in Christ and likes him 2. It is a consenting act a Marriage-act when the soul as it likes Christ so is willing to receive him according to the terms of the Gospel at that time it doth put on Christ and his Righteousness Now this is the question you are to ask your selves Have you found such a consenting unto Christ such a giving up your selves unto Christ upon the terms of the Gospel You like him and approve him and liking of him you willingly take him upon the terms he hath offered himself unto you If you can say You have found such an act pass between Christ and your souls it is well and it may assure you that you will stand among them that shall stand before Christ But then thirdly in
thâ— they Shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter day VVhen theâ— shall in the latter days be brought neâ— unto God there shall be a holy awâ— of God upon their hearts that shâ— keep them and preserve them and lâ— a restraint upon them that they shâ— not be left â—o do the things that aâ— grievouâ— in his sight Now it is goâ— to inquire whether you finde such 〈◊〉 awe upon your sâ—â—ls that you câ— look upon what â—e hath done aâ— thereby find a kâ—nd of restraâ—â—t lâ—id uâ—on you to keep close to â—im to aâ—â—eâ— his work and â—â—itâ—â—â—â—he things thâ— are pleâ—sing in his siâ—â—â— A â—econd 〈◊〉 is thiâ— Is sâ—andiâ— before Christ suâ—â— a serious thing may help a little for the support them that tremble at the thoughts of â—tanding before him There are some â—ouls that do conclude or at least are very apt to conclude they shall never stand before Christ with comfort that they shall never be able to bear his presence that that day will be a day of such dread and terrour to them that they shall fall before his great and glorious Majesty I would say Is there any that have such workings of heart Why what is the ground of it what is it that fills you with this fear Why saies the soul I am full of fear that his appearance and coming will have so much dread in it that I shall not be able to bear it Unto such I would say It is true the appearance of Christ will be dreadful but unto whom 2 Thes 2.8 It is the wicked that the Lord will consume with the brightness of his coming The dread of the day will not light upon his people but his enemies it will be upon them that know not God And therefore soul thou needest not tremble though it will be dreadful unto them that are his enemies thou mayst notwithstanding hold up thy head I but saies the soul this is my case I have a rebellious heart a hard heart that will not stoop and subject it self to Christ and therefore his coming will be terriblâ— unto me To thâ—â— I answer Paâ—â— â—â—â—er he was converted â—â—d â—ebeâ—â—â—â— in his â—eaâ—t lusts in hiâ— heâ—â—t riâ—â—â—g uâ—â—gainâ—t God as well as thou haâ—â— Rom. 7.19 I finde a law in my members warâ—â—ng against the law of my mind Christs coming into the soul doth not dispossess sin all at once it doth begin the work but it doth not turn sin wholly out of doors no that it doth not but it doth give an earnest of what shâ—ll be done that he will at length subdue thy corruptions throughly But consider this though thou hast a rebellious heart is it not that that thou mournest over is it not that that is thy burthen that that is grievous unto thy soul if it be fear not Christ will come and refine thee not destroy thee he will take away thy dross he will destroy thy corruption but not thee Malach. 3.2 3. But who may abide the day of his coming He will sit as a Refiner of silver c. So I may say unto such a soul as I am now speaking to he will sit as a refiners fire he will purifie but he will not destroy he will take away thy dross he will conquer thy corruption but thee he will save I but saies the soul I dread the thoughts of his coming and therefore sure it will not be to be born by me To that I answer Thy present apprehension is no ground from whence thou mayst make a certain conclusion for wicked men observe it they do not dread the coming of Christ they make a light matter of it and yet it shall be dreadful unto them So thou dost dread his coming and the thoughts of it are irksome to thee but it may be it may not be dreadful when it doth come we have other thoughts of God then we should have many times and therefore the Prophet in Jer. 17.17 he prayes Be not thou a terrour unto me He did mistake God God he intended to deliver him and not to be a terrour to him and so we are apt to think that Christ will be a terrour unto us when it is no such matter when he comes only to take us unto himself to set us with himself in glory And that is the second 3. Will the day of Christs appearing be so dreadful How should it quicken and stir up our hearts then to get into some readiness for that day Motives I might give you many but let this suffice the coming of the Lord draweth nigh not according to that expression A thousand years is as one day and so God may say it iâ— nigh but really and in truth the Judge stands at the door and surely there is but a little time between us and that notable day of the Lord. Oh the signs that we have of the Son of man Immediately before the tribulation of that day The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not give her light c. Luke 21.25 Truely this hath been abundantly of late in a more then ordinary manner 2. Distress of Nations which is added God seems to sound an Alarum to the world by that distress that he brings upon Nations And if the report at least be true a spirit stirring among the Ancient Jewish people is as eminent a sign of Christs coming as any that wâ— have met with before This I am satisfied about that things do look as if the day of the Son of man did hasten greâ—tly as if it weâ—e even at the door and I am sure it doth call loudly unto us to pâ—ck up for Eternity and make ready for that solemn day There are preparations in heaven towards it all things are setting in order against that great Assize and let not us be behind-hand Oh saies the soul what shall I do I a rebel against Christ is there any hope for me that I may yet make peace my heart is full of fear what I shall do when Christ shall sit upon the Throne I will give thee answer soul in allusion to that case between Adonijah and Solomon Adonijah rises up in rebellion scrambles for the Crown but Solomon was crown'd before him and in the 1 King 1.15 52. It was told Solomon saying Adonijah saith Let King Solomon swear I shall not dye c. I allude to it and I think it doth point to what I am speaking of Thou hast been a rebel against Christ thou hearest the Father will set the Crown upon his head that he shall be inthroned And now thy heart trembles and â—hou cryest Oh that King Solomon would swear unto me that I shall not dye Oh that Christ would assure me that I should finde Grace and Favour with him It may be that is thy language take the answer of Christ the true Solomon If thou shew thy self a worthy man there shall not a hair of thine head fall to the earth that is if thou wilt lay down thy arms and come and submit unto Christ heartily and sincerely if thou wilt come and bow before him and acknowledge him for thine Head Lord and Law-giver the Lord Jesus gives his royal Word Not a hair of thy head shall fall to the ground But if thou wilt continue in thy rebellion and iniquity be found in you you shall dye Now soul what is the answer of thy heart art thou purposed in the strength of the Lord to come and submit to Jesus If so thou shewest thy self a worthy man and things shall then go well with thee and thou mayst meet him with comfort and stand before â—im with joy And one Use more If standing before Christ will be so serious a work then to you that are able to say Through Grace things are at that pass that you have ground â—o think you can and â—â—all stand before him with comfort What thankfulness doth this call you up unto What a day will that be to you a wonderful day a day filled with Wonder a day rich and glorious in a way of mercy to you the wonders of that day unto you will be many These two or three among others 1. A wonderful freedom from all your burthens both of sin and suffering 2. Wonderful meeting with all your friends the Saints of all ages shall be gathered together before the throne if the sight of one friend be so refreshing what will it be when all the Saints of all ages shall meet together 3. A wonderful injoyment of Christ and God and this to all eternity never more complaining of â—bsence and distance of hiding and withdrawing but you shall be caught up to the Lord to be for ever with â—im therefore do as is the exhortation of the Apostle 1 Thess 4.18 Comfort one another with these words you may have your burthens of sin and outward trouble for a while there mâ—y be breakings and scatterings of Saints from one another for a time and some hidings of Gods face but in the end these things will end and God and you and the Saints and you shall sit down together to rejoyce in one another to all eternity Soli Deo gloria FINIS