meek spirits as Christ did take our flesh let us partake of his Spirit Why dost thou imbitter the brest of the Creature to us but that we should finde the sweetness of the Promises There is as much in the Promises as ever let us live upon God let us cast anchor in Heaven and we shall never sink Shower down thy blessings even the choicest of them upon the head and heart of our dread Sovereign Charles by thy appointment of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith let him see wherein his cheifest interest lies let him count those his best subjects that are Christ's subjects Bless him ân hâs Royal Consort in his Royal Relations the Lords of his Privy Council let them be a terror to eviâ doers and incouragers of those that do well Bless all thy Ordinances to us make them to be fulness of life to every one before thee we are come this day to partake of them Oh pour in Wine and oyl into our souls let us be a watered garden let this blessed Sacrament be a poyson to our lust and nourishment for our Grace Hear us be our God follow us with mercy crown us with acceptance and all for Christ his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce to Christ with thee and thy holy Spirit be Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen Mr. Lye 's Prayer at Allhallows Lumber-street O Lord our great God thou canst do all things for thou dost dispose and govern all the wayes and works and words of thy Creature to thâne own praise We thy poor Creatures the workmanship of thy hands the price and purchase of thy Sons blood do desire this morning to fall down and humble our selves at the Throne of thy Grace we desire to lift up an eye of Faith to thee that thou mayest dart an eye of Love to us since thou hast commanded us to come unto thee Oh bless us now we come Let it not be in vain for any of us from the high'st to the low'st from the richest to the poorest that we have sought thy Face this morning Blessed Father pour down a spirit of Prayer a Spirit of preaching a Spirit of Rejoycing a spirit of Practising in the midst of us let us not only be enabled to know what to do but to do what we know Thou that distd cure the eyes of the blind with clay and spittle Oh heel that natural dimness that is in the best of us Thy Rod in the hand of Moses brought water out of the Rock Oh do thou strike upon those rocky hearts that our adamantine hearts being softned may gush out into Rivers of tears Oh drown our sins in the Red sea of our saviours blood help us to smite upon our thigh and to ask our selves what we have been and what we have done and humble us under the omission of any commanded duty and the comission of any for bidden sin sins of thoughts wordes and dieds sins against the Law against the Gospel of youth manhood and old-age sins before under and since conversion sins against prayers vows promises covenants and oaths Oh Lord if thou didst prefer thy Bill against us we could not stand if we were weighed in the balance of the Sanctury we should be found too light but holy Father remember not against us our former sins but rather have mercy upon us according to thy loving kindness cross and blot out our iniquities blot them out so fully and wholly that it may be to us as to Judath in the promise that the sins of Judath should be sought for and not found O bathe our souls in that Fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem though our sins have been as Scarlet let them be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson let them be like Wool We have read that a flood of sin brought down a deluge of water that they covered the tops of the mountains Oh let thy deluge of mercy cover the tops of the mountains of our sins It is the glory of a God to pardon great sins We desire to turn unto thee with our whole hearts do thou subdue our iniquities let us be not only cleansed but let us have the efficacy of the spirit of Christ to wash us from the guilt of sin because we boast we are not under the Law but under Grace Be gracious to our Soveraign Lord Charles King of England Scotland France and Ireland It is thy promise that Kings shall be Nursing Fathers to thy children grant that under the shadow of his Majesty thy people may be protected that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Oh let thy people possess the Land from Dan to Beersheba Oh give us Scripture-Magistrates and Gospel-Ministers as long as the Sun and Moon endures Let thy VVord be sanctified to us let it not be only as water to get out our spots but as a Refiners fire to purge our dross and take away our tin And holy Father where thou hast begun a good work do thou go on and bring it to perfection let not the light that is in us be like the glimmering light of the evening but as the light of the morning that shineth more and more to the day Let our best wine be kept to the last let the end of our lives be the end of sinning Thou hast cast our lot in the midst of temptations of all sorts thou hast brought many of us through the red Sea but we are in the wilderness with Zeba and Zalmunna and those that dwell at Tyre the children of Ammon Moab and mount Seir and all the forces that Hell can make against us Oh put upon uâ all the whole Armour of God Now in these days of Errour gird us with the Girdle of Truth Oh now in these days of falsity give us a helmet of Hope Now the Devil darts at us give us the Sheiâd of Faith Oh give us the Sword of the Spirit of the word of God that it may enable us to confute the gain-saying of foolish men Oh help us to pray with all manner of prayer constantly fervently faithfully feelingly that we stand and not fall and that not in our strength but in Gods To this end be with us upon this thine own day our Manna falls every day and it is doubled upon the Lords day Oh let us be as thy servant John in the Spirit upon thine own day let God by his Spirit come into our spirits understandings consciences wills memories and affections that all our conversations without and affections within may be obedient to thy Word Enable thy Servant to deliver thy Word faithfully God forbid thy Servant should stand upon so sandy a foundation as the Wisdome of Man one iota of thy Word hath more wisdome in it then all men and Angels have Good Father give thy people a hearing ear it is too much they have played
pass and as vers 8. Fret not thy self in any wise to do evil 2. Take heed of such persons as by whom if you be not the more watchful you may be so offended as to be turned out of the way More particularly 1. Take heed of your selves This is that our Saviour calls for in that Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself Our greatest danger is from our selves while we have within a deceiver and a traytor who is still conspiring to turn us out of the way Take heed therefore of your own selves consult not with flesh and blood Gal. 1.10 2. Beware of Satan This is that which the Apostle suggests 2 Cor. 3. I fear by any means lest as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ And out of the like fear concerning you I beseech you beware of Satan and the rather for that as the Apostle saith vers 14. Satan is transformed into an Angel of light 2. Beware of false Teachers This is the advice of our Saviour in Mat. 7.15 Beware of false Prophets which comes to you in sheeps cloathing c. And though I cannot say I know with the Apostle in Acts 20.29 yet I am greatly afraid that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock and that of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciple after them 4. Beware of worldly Friends such as will counsel you to spare your selves such as savour not the things of God but those that be of men This our Saviour calls for in that of Luke 14.26 Answer them as Christ answered Peter Mat 16.22 23. The proper use of this Point with respect to the people of God is to exhort and perswade them to wait on the Lord and keep his way however it be whoever they are that watch and plot against them however they may prosper in bringing wicked devices to pasâ however they may prevail in oppressing the poor Saints yet this is the Exhortation that I have received from the Lord for you Wait on the Lord and keep his Way There are two branches of the Exhortation I shall speak to both of them distinctly And because the latter of them is the main and the former a help thereto in bad times I shall invert the order of the Text and speak to what is here the latter in the first place and the other as time will give leave 1. However it go Saints though the wicked watch to do you a mischief yet keep you the Way of the Lord diligently observing the way of his Commandements the way of your duty to walk therein For as much as it hath been the design of mâ preaching all along to expound the Way of God to you and to instruct you in the way of the Lord And I am now directing my speech to the Saints of God who know own and profess the way of the Lord I shall not spend much time while I have so little left in recounting to you what I have taught you concerning the way of the Lord onely in general that way of truth and righteousness the way of faith and holiness which I have taught you from the word is intended You know the way of Gospel-Doctrine Gospel-Fellowship Gospel-worship Gospel-Discipline and Gospel-Conversation which I have preached and you have received And here beloved I call God to witness in whose Name I have preached to you that I have preached the way of the Lord sincerely and faithfully as I have received of the Lord by the teaching of his Spirit through the Word I therefore beseech and entreat you out of that hearty love I bear to you and that affectionate care I have for you that as you tender the Glory of God your own Peace here and eternal Happiness hereafter and the spiritual and eternal good of others that you will remember how you have heard and received and keep the way of the Lord. In the prosecuting of this I shall speak to these two things First Open this duty in a few particulars Secondly Give you some directions to help you herein For the first of these take it in these particulars 1. Be exhorted to keep the way of the Lord in your memories So Rev. 3 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast I am speaking to those that have received the knowledge of the way of the Lord that they retain what they have learned and that they maintain an actual remembrance of it and the rather take heed to this every one of you with the greater diligence for that you are like to be deprived of the help of your Remembrancers viz. the faithful Ministers of Christ 1 Tim. 4.6 you have had their help a lâng while in putting you from Sabbath to Sabbath in remembrance but this is taking from you as the Apostle in another case Heb. 2.1 Therefore ye ought to give the more earnest heed to the things ye have heard lest at any time ye should let them slip 2. Keep the Way of the Lord in your judgments and Consciences I am speaking to those whose judgments are enlightned and Consciences renewed to approve of the VVay of the Lord As therefore the Apostle unto them 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye be led amay with the error of the wicked and fall from your own stedfastness So say I seeing ye know the VVay of the Lord and approve of it beware lest being led away with the error of the wicked and your own judgements being thereby corruped and your Consciences defiled you fall from your own stedfastness and I the rather press this for that as the Apostle hath it 2 Cor. 11.3 I fear lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 3. Keep the Way of the Lord in your Profession I am speaking unto those who as Rom. 10.10 with the heart believe unto Righteousness and with the month make confession unto Salvation And you have the Exhortation in the words of the Apostle Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of the Faith without wavering Be not ashamed of your profession as our Saviour speaks Mar 8.38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my Words in this adulterous and sinfull generation of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with his holy Angels with Mat. 10.32 33. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven But whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven 4. Keep the Way of the Lord in your hearts and affections loving rejoycing and delighting in the Way of the Lord
express so little to our Brother 'T is an Argument we know not of what spirit we are of as Christ told his Disciples Oh! how unlike to that God whom we profess to be our God He is long suffering patient full of goodness gentleness mercy c. we can bear nothing we can suffer nothing one from another 13. Our great murmuring against Reformation and Reformers God hath heard the voyce of our murmuring Exod. 2.6 As if there had been nothing that would have undone us but Reformation and truly God seems to speak such a word as that was Numb 7.5 in displeasure and anger I will make your murmuring to cease I will take away the cause of your murmuring I would have reformed you and you would not be reformed As Christ to Jerusalem I would but you would not Mat. 23. The time may come when we would and God will not when we shall cry Other Lords have had dominion over us c. Isa 26.13 but thou Lord set up thou thy Government rule thou over uââ and God may say No 't is too late I would have healed you and you would not be healed 14. The great neglect of the care of our Families Truly 't is not the least sin that threatens the removal of our Candle-stick How generally have the duties of Religion been let fall in our families reading the word singing Psalms c. time was when one could not have come through the streets of London on an evening in the week-day but we might hear the praises of God singing of Psalms now 't is a stranger in the City even upon the Lords own day Oh! how have Governours of Families cast off the care of the souls that God hath committed to them How careless are they of the souls of their yoak-fellows that lye in their bosome of their Children the fruit of their loins Masters of their servants c. And in the mean time are ready to stand up and justifie themselves with the boldness of Cain to say to God Am I my brothers keeper Am I the keeper of my yoak-fellows Childrens servants souls Yes thou art the keeper c. God hath put them into thy trust and if they perish through thy fault they may die in their sins but their blood shall be required at thy hand God will say to thee as he did to Cain Thy Brothers blood cryeth in my ear 15. Our indifferences as to matter of faith and doctrine That we have not been more zealous for the Truth of Christ that great trust and depositum which hath been committed to us We have accounted it no matter of what opinion or judgment men be in these latter times 'T is an universal saying No matter what judgment men be of so they be Saints as if truth in the judgment did not go to the making up of a Saint as well as holiness in the Will and Affections As if Christ had not come into the World to bear witness of the truth which was his great design as if it were no matter if God have the heart so the devil be in the head as if no matter that be full of darkness so the heart be for God 16. The unsuitableness of our conversation to the Gospel of Christ 'T is the only thing the Apostles puts the Philippians in mind of and commits to their care Phil. 1.27 and truly in these unhappy dayes it hath been the only thing men have neglected and despised how little care that our conversations should honour the Gospel c. 17. Our living by sense and not by faith Surely my Brethren among all the sins in England that the people of God have cause to be humbled for there is not any whereby we have more provoked God than by that sin of our unbelief murmuring and infidelity have been our two great sins for which it is the wonder of Gods mercy that he hath not caused our carkasses to fall in the Wilderness he may take up that complaint of us that he did of Israel Num. 14.22 Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I diâââ Egypt and in the Wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkned to my voyce surely they shall not see the Land c. And this is the lamentation we may take up that truly to this very day we have not faith enough to carry us from one miracle to another from one deliverance to another from one salvation to another let one deliverance pass over our head and no sooner one Wave rises higher than another but we are ready to cry out with Peter Lord save me I perish and well were it if our fears did issue into tears and cryes after Christ we rather are ready to cry out as those in Ezek. 37.11 Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost we are out off for our parts We are a people that never knew how to honour God in any distress God hath brought us into never learnt to glorifie God by believing if we cannot see him we cannot believe him surely that which God hath done for us in such a succession of miracles it might well at least have been found for our faith during our so journing In our Pilgrimage we might have learned by all that we have seen to believe God we might have made experience to be the food of our faith and upon all the Providences of Divine Power Wisdom and Goodness we might have discoursed our selves into belief as David 1 Sam. 17.37 The Lord hath delivered me out of the paw of the Lyon and of the Bear he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine So Paul He hath delivered and doth deliver we trust he will also deliver Oh my Brethren we dishonoun God and starve our faith by forgetting our experience while we proclaim by our own unbelief that we have a God that we dare not trust If we perish we may thank our selves for it surely if we miscarry that account may be given for it that we find Mat. 13 58. Because of our unhelief There is a rest of God before us if we do not enter in it is because of our unbelief 18. Went of sympathy with the bleeding gasping groaning dying Churches of Jesus Christ They have been in great afflictions round about have call'd to us pitty me Oh pitty me my friends for the hand of God is gone out against me We cannot look any way but we see cause of bitter mourning but we have not laid the blood of Germany Lituania Piedmount c. to heart therefore God may justly lay it to our charge Want of fellow-feeling with our Brethren in their afflictions it is a kind of persecution a kind of being accessary to their sufferings That we have not mourned wept bled with them that we have not lien in the dust smote on our thighs c. God may justly say to us as Ames 6.6 7. They shall go captive with the
their house for the crowd of the people that are going thither For shame let not this be told in Gath nor published in Askelon What! shall we stand up for the holiness of places and yet oppose the holiness of the Lords day which God hath enjoyned and instituted Oh! that the Magistrates of London Oh! that Englands King Oh! that Englands Parliament would do something for the Reformation of this to oppose wickedness and prophaneness which will otherwise bring upon us the judgments of Sodom and Gomorrah and make us guilty and worthy of a thousand punishments And labour by Prayer in your Families to overcome that flood of prophaneness which you cannot by your strength prevent And then for the Sacraments of Christ Baptism and the Lords Supper these are Ordinances of Gods appointment they are holy and therefore should not be given to those that are unholy and yet those who are so much for the holiness of places do not care who come to the Sacrament if they have but a Nose on their Face they shall come and partake of the Ordinances let them be what they will this is to prefer mans Institution before Gods Institution And then for the Lords Message and Word that is a holy thing and therefore love his Messengers the Messengers of God delivering his message with fear and reverence you are to hear them with the same fear reverence and resolution to be holy as if Christ were present And for the Word of God it is not enough for you to have a choice Sentence written upon the Walls of your Churches but let Gods Law be written in your hearts and consciences and practised in your lives that all the world may see you live as men dedicated to the true God in all the duties of his wayes and obedience Many of these things might have been enlarged What I have give you with the right hand I pray you Christians do not take with the left for if you do you will make your selves guilty of a double sin First Because you do not obey the truth you hear And secondly For putting a wrong construction upon it But I have better hopes of you my beloved hearers and hope that the Lord will be better unto your souls than his Ministers than his Word or any thing else can be God bless you and his Ordinances and discover his mind and will at this time to you Mr. Baxter's Sermon Coloss 2.6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him Rooted and built in him and established in the faith as ye have been taught abunding therein with thanksgiving OMitting the division and in part the opening of the words the Observations is That those that have received Christ Jesus the Lord must accordingly bee rooted built up in him and established in the Faith and walk in him as they have been taught and abound therein with thanksgiving This receiving of Christ signifies to believe in him It is not only to receive his Doctrine or Benefits but to receive his person to receive him as related to us for the uses and end for which he came into the World and for which he offers himself to souls by the Preaching of the Gospel Sinners have lost and undone themselves Christ comes to be the Physitian of Souls hee will not save the unwilling and Despisers of his Grace while they continue in their unwillingness He will save them by the way of covenant while he consents and tenders them his Grace he will have them consent to the terms of his Covenant The consent of the heart exprest by our covenanting with him is this receiving of Jesus Christ He is willing to be our Physitian and when we take him to be so we receive him He is willing to save us from the guilt and power of sin willing to be our Lord Head Intercessor with God Justifier and all unto us and if we consent to this and take him as offered this is receiving Christ with whom his benefits are also received the remission of sins in-dwelling renewing comforting spirit title to everlasting life c. In receiving Christ all this is received Receiving of Christ contains these two things or these two things are essentially contained to make up the nature of saving Faith that is to believe the Doctrine of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ to bee true and to consent that the goodness that is therein revealed and proposed shall be ours To believe what Christ is and what he hath done so far to believe it as here we are resolved to venture our souls though there may be some weakness through our Faiths imperfection and believing the Gospel to be the certain Word of God Then next to entertain the Christ that is offered in this Gospel to be ours with all the benefits that accompany and to all the blessed ends to which he is revealed Thus the Water of Life is freely tendered to all that are athirst and there is no more required but come and drink Then there is two things implyed that are the immediate products of saving Faith and inseparable from it that is trusting on him as the Redeemer and obeying him as a Lord. To rest upon him as a Redeemer Romans 15.12 And here as far as the soul feels entertainment and encouragement by Christ overcoming his doubts that Christ will reject him c. so far he hath quietness of soul in Christ and will trust his soul upon Christ And then the obeying of him in order to our full recovery as a Patient must obey his Physitian in using his Remedies and Means he prescribes for killing our sins restoring our souls to Gods love and being with him to eternity The nature of Faith is to receive Christ the sincerity of it lies in the suitableness of the act to the object that we receive him as he is Now in Christ there is something essential to this act that he be a Saviour and our Saviour c. and there is something makes unto the well-being and fuller attaining of the end The first are the objects of Faith it self as 't is of absolute necessity to Salvation The second sort are the objects of Faith as it is strong and makes to the well being of a Christian All that is essential to Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer is to be believed by him that will approve himself a true Believer And thus to receive Christ as the eternal Son of God made man the Redeemer of the World ruling us upon the right of Redemption justifying us before God bringing us to God and interceding for us And thus Christ must be received according to his Offices and as those uses for which he is given to the soul do import and imply For the Application of this Point First Let us begin with those that our business at present doth not mainly lye on Must men walk in Christ as they have received him What shall we say to those that have not
your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together not to pluck out one anothers throats no more of that but striving together not against one another but for the faith of the Gospel So 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my Brethren be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 'T is our Duty to stand But 2. Wherein must we stand fast I have no new Doctrine to preach now I shall but mind you of what I have formerly spoken when you would not believe I confess I do not begin to be of a new judgement now and should I be continued in the Ministry a mercy I can hardly hope for I should be of the same judgement and preach this Doctrine Stand fast God will certainly bring the people of God in England to his own terms or else fare them well for ever What is that we should be stedfast in I would advise to a stedfastness 1. Of Judgement 2. Of Resolution 3. Of Fatih 4. Of Conscience So stand fast in the Lord in your Judgement in your Resolution in your Faith in your Conscience 1. I would advise you to a stedfastness of Judgement Strange Doctrines are the greatest Fetters that do assault a sound Judgement they are like waves if they do not split they will shake the Ship to purpose therefore your way is to cast Anchor well to stand firm on the Rock of Truth I had almost said all in a word Protestant truth though the market may rise somewhat high yet stand firmly there while strange Doctrines like so many impetuous Waves are beating upon you break themselves in pieces they may but if you stand can never hurt you I am not to begin to warn you against Popery not that I have the lest reflexion on any thing in the World but on the Scriptures I am apt to think the wound of the beast must be healed however do not you spread a plaister for the Beast to heal his wound Be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of Doctrine with every wind of windy Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness that can cog the die notable Gamesters there are in the world but you must stand steady in judgement you must be firm to your principles I would have you Stars not Meteors for Meteors are carried about with every blast of wind I hope better things of you I shall pray God would make you stedfast in judgement First be sure to get good principles and secondly be sure to stand in those principles that you have got And though I cannot say but some Tares are sown among this Parish yet I bless the Lord for the generality I hope I may say I have an Orthodox Ministry 2. 'T is not enough to stand in judgement but we must be stedfast to our Resolution 1 Cor. 15.58 Be stedfast unmoveable such as stand firm on some basis and foundation that doth not totter and stagger if they find you staggering to be sure the next moment they look upon you as falling Be as they say of one or both of the poles of the heavens though all the world turns the poles are immoveable If I mistake not you may see a great turn in the world and behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England but yet you must not move you must not stir be true to your Resolutions but just to your first Love go on in the Lords work let nothing take you off If I have preached any false Doctrine among you witness against me at the day of Judgement but if the things I have preached be true stand to the truth if you do not witness against my Doctrine mine 't is not but rather witness for it remember if you leave it that very Doctrine will witness against you at the day of judgement Oh! the excellent Heroe Queen Hester thus and thus will I do and if I perish I perish You cannot imagine against how many thousand temptations a stedfast resolution will guard you 3. There 's a Stedfastness of Faith too when we so believe as that we do not waver or do not deviate Will you give me leave to propose to you my dear friends though my Congregation I cannot call you that question which our Saviour did unto the Jews whom he hated though I love you The Baptism of John whence was it from Heaven or of men The Doctrines you have heard have they been from Heaven or from men Answer me if from men abhor them man is a false Creature man would make merchandize of your faith and Souls but if from Heaven why then should you not believe them I bless the Lord my Conscience bears me witness I never did so far propose a Doctrine to you I would have you believe without Scripture if the Doctrines have been from God believe them if not abhor them and any of those that shall dare to bring a Doctrine but dare not bring the Authority of the Scripture to warrant them You may not be like those in Jam. 1.6 That wavereth like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed The most godly man may stumble in his way i. e. tread awry but a wavering minded man is never setled concerning this way Blessed be God I am not now on this day that looks as like my dying day as can be in the World to begin to fix upon a Religion fix upon my way I know my way if God will but keep my steps and guide me in that way If God be God I appeal to your Consciences worship him if Baal be God worship him do not stand in disputing and doubting do not say shall I shall I if the ways you have found be the ways of God follow them God hath but one way to Heaven there is but one truth if Baal be God follow Baal do not stand wavering do not consult with flesh and bloud t is an infinite mercy that God will give any of us to leave Relations Estates Congregations any thing for Christ 't is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a Rock Be sure to be either for God or Baal a godly man many times halts in his way but never halts between two opinions 4. Stedfastness of Conscience Indeed the genious of my Ministry hath lain this way and here I could casily lanch out but I must be short I would speak a word in season to those that are weak it becomes you to be stedfast in conscience then have a God-decreeing a Christ-redeeming a Spirit-quickening a Gospel-promising a Heaven-prepared a God infinitely more ready to save him then he can possibly be desirous to be saved by him Be stedfast in Conscience against the guilt the filth of sin against the temptations of Satan c. Let us draw near with full assurancee of Faith you can never believe Gods
us 1 Cor. 1.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned It may they will tell you a natural man may love God with his heart really as so and savingly whereas the Apostle tells you Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject unto the Law of God neither indeed can be Remember it in all those doctrines wherein we agree with those whom we call Pelagians and Arminians so far we agree with the Jesuits and the worst of Papists 3. As you would avoid Hell avoid all those doctrines that would lift up self-righteousness and debase the righteousness of Christ I fear I shall never be in that capacity that I would to stand you in stead in this particular I confess I am against forty things in Popery but my soul is here engaged if that doctrine be a truth I never expect salvation by God either I must be saved by Christ alone or else I must never be saved by Christ at all though Christ will never save me without sanctification yet Christ never intended my sanctification should merit his salvation be as holy as you can as if there were no Gospel to save yet when you are as holy as you can you must believe in Christ as if there were no Law at all to condemn you Come and tell me of the merit of Saints c. I will believe that truth when I believe the Whore of Babylon to be Christs Spouse see Phil. 3.9 2 Cor. 5.21 8. Why should you stand you must be praying Christians I confess when most of my strings are broken there is yet one holds there is a Spirit of Prayer remember Atheist among the Saints of God I can pray yet and I had rather stand against the Canons of the wicked than against the prayers of the righteous Oh! pray that you enter not into temptation or if we enter into temptation Lord let not the temptation enter into us pray if possible let this cup pass from me but if not let it not poyson me but let me be bettered by it and in due time deliver me from it I believe it would be a great temptation to you if it should be said to you you shall trade with no man any more c. you have enjoyed these and these comforts bid them adieu for ever you shall have no more to do with them this would be a temptation Temptations and Tryals are great and certainly where they are so prayer should be strong There is no relief to be expected on earth all our relief is to be expected from God and that 's to be obtained by prayer Pray that God would be pleased above all things in the world to make you sincere would you be stedfast in your profession you must be sincere in your practice To him that hath shall be given that is a comfort to him that hath but truth of grace to him shall be given growth of grace Would you be steaddy Christians then make it your great work to attend the Ordinances that God hath prescribed to make you steady Christians you were told of this many years ago concerning attending the Ordinances of God Quest Pray what are those Answ 1. There are secret Ordinances it may be thou canst not be so much in the Pulpit as thou wouldst Oh! be more in thy Closet it may be thou shalt not have so many opportunities to hear so many Lectures be more conscientious in thy meditations in secret it may be thou shalt not have that freedom with God in publick be more earnest with God in private 2. Mind your families more than ever you have your Children and Servants call aloud upon you How many grave faces do I see at this time that can tell me Sir I remember some twenty or thirty years ago you could not pass the streets but here was one Family repeating the Word of God another singing the praises of God another praying to God another conferring concerning the things of God at that time we had not so much foolish absurd excursion into streets and âields as now O! for the Lords sake begin to take them up now let the Amorite Perisite and Jebusite do what they will but oh for you and your children and your servants do you serve the Lord up again with those godly Exercises when we cannot hear a Sermon then read a Sermon if we cannot hear a Sermon well Preached our Godly Parents would engage us to read a Sermon well Pen'd if nothing new let the word repeated and meditated call to mind what you have heard Oh! reduce your selves to your Christian frame let the debauched Atheists know that they have something among you to be feared that 's your prayers let them know that though you have not those opportunities you have had yet you will improve those you have And you Masters of this Parish for Gods sake keep in your Servants on this day more than ever you are to be accountable for their souls and they will give you a thousand thanks when they come to age especially at the day of judgement Oh! then blessed be God I had such a Master blessed be God I had such a Mistriss blessed be God I had such Parents Quest But then for publick Ordinances what would you have us do Answ 1. Where evere Christ doth find a tongue to speak I am bound to find an ear to hear and an heart to believe I would not be mistaken I bless the Lord I am not turned out of my Ministry for being a Scismatick I know Schism is a sin nor know I any of my Brethren that are so do not mistake us therefore do not go and tell the Jesuits we are Schismaticks for we are none But this I would advise I speak as though I were dying do whatsoever lies in your yower to hear such whom you think to be godly beg of God be earnest with him that he would give Pastors after his own heart and whom God hath sent not such as may daub with untempered mortar and not such as may prophecy lies in the Name of the Lord not such as may be clouds without water but such as may be guides of the blind burning and shining Lights faithsul Stewards What shall you do what did you twenty or thirty years ago what did the good old Puritans do they were not Schismaticks But as much as lies in you possible hear them whom in your conscience God doth hear Oh! then expect the Word of God should come to your hearts when you have ground to believe it comes from your Pastors heart I must confess I intend to do the same when put into the same condition with you I acknowledge I am bound in Conscience to hear the Word of God but I must take care whom I hear hear those by whom God speaks I hope God will grant several such
Take but this advice more and I have no more to say Whatever abuse you find either in Paster in People or where-ever you find it do not go as your old use have been to rail calumniate back-bite and speak behind their backs this is wicked and ungodly but do every one according as God prescribes us that are members of any visible Church what 's that If I know any thing against my Brother do not go and make a sputter and a noise and back-bite but take the rule of Christ If thy brother trespass against thee go and tell him of his fault between him and thee alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy brother but if he will not hear thee then take with thee one or two more and if he neglect to hear them tell it to the Church and leave the bloud at their door thou hast freed thine own soul I hope by Gods grace I shall do so Thus I have now spoken something from this Scripture I cannot speak what I desire for besides the exhausting of my Spirits there is something to be done after viz. a Funeral Sermon I shâll say no more but only this The God of Heaven be pleased to make you mind these plain things I can truly say this I have not spoken one wârd that I remember which I would not have said to you if I had been a dying and being to go to God as soon as gone out of the Pulpit and the God of peace be with you only mind that one thing When God doth not find a tongue to speak do not you find an ear to hear and an heart to believe Mr. Mede's Farewel Sermon 1 Cor. 1.3 Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ YOu will wonder possibly that I should pitch on the Apostles Salutation for my valediction and make that the conclusion of my Preaching which he made the beginning of his Writing and therefore I have made a double Plea for it I find that this was a Form of Blessing peculiar to this Apostle both in the beginning and end of this Epistle for as there is scarcely one Epistle but begins with it so many end with it likewise as in Eph. 6.24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit So in 2 Thes 3.18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your all So that I find the Apostle to use it frequently at the beginning and end of his writing I thought as I made it the matter of my prayer for you in the beginning so I might make it my farewel to you in the ending and therefore Grace be unto you peace from God our Father from our Lord Jesus Christ Besides this as Jacob said to his Benjamin concerning his Venison when his Father asked him how he found it so quickly he answered because the Lord thy God brought it to me The same I may say of this Scripture for considering of what subject I should speak in my last labours here among you the Scripture came to my thoughts and opening the Book came immediately to my sight and therefore I may say God brought it to me which I no sooner looked upon but methinks I saw the Apostle on Mount Gerizim and his mouth filled with blessings for what greater blessings can a man wish than that which comprehends all blessings and that is grace and peace Being therefore now to part I thought to go to the top of the Mount and leave with you grace and peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ In which words there are two generals 1. A double Blessing desired 2. A double Spring discovered 1. A double Blessing desired and that is grace and peace Grace is of all Blessings the richest peace is of all comforts the sweetest both these the Apostle begs for the Corinthians and so do I for you Beloved Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Here is a double Fountain discovered and that is the Father and the Son God and Christ The Father is called the God of Grace the Son is called the Prince of Peace not that Grace is from the Father without Peace not Peace from the Son without Grace but both Grace and Peace are from God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ The Order of the words is worth nothing Grace be to you and Peace First grace then peace for there can be no peace without grace nor grace but there will be peace but there can be no true peace but from God not from God but as he is a Father not from God as a Father but as our Father and he cannot be said to be our Father but through our Lord Jesus Christ and therefore he said Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ both are manifested as a golden Chain linked together not grace without peace nor peace without grace but both enjoyned together to cram the believers Souls with grace and peace Now from the Order of the Words we might raise several Observations 1. That Peace is the fruit of Grace 2. That Grace and Peace are both from God 3. That Love which is the spring of Grace and Peace is from God as a Father 4. That we share not in his Love but only as he is our Father All is from Propriety First Our Father then grace and peace from God our Father 5. That God is our Father only through Christ But before we draw any thing from the Text by way of Observation we will speak to the terms by way of Explication Grace be unto you What is here meant by Grace This is a sweet word it perfumes the Breath it cherishes the Conscience it warms the heart it ravishes the Soul as the Spouse was ravished with âayes of Christs glory so Christ revives the Soul with one of his gracious rayes discovered to the heart Grace is the life of the Soul thou art dead till Grace quickens thee thou art lost till Grace find thee undone till Grace saves thee Grace is the Manna of Angels the spiritual Bread which those that are holy in being are nourished with and subsist by Angels live on Grace and stand by Grace Man that shares in the Grace of God is made fellow Commoner with Angels eats Angels food and shares in Angels blessings Grace is the substance of the Scripture the end of the Law the fulness of the Gospel Gregory calls it the Heart and Soul of God I am sure Grace is the Heart and Soul of the Word 't is a little Word but it comprehends all good here is more than Homers Iliads in a Nut-shell 't is the Epitome of all the good in Heaven an Earth name any Word that signifies good in the Soul here or hereafter but it is found in the Index in this little word Grace Grace comprehends Gods love to us and our
but then secondly A second Argument in the Text shall be drawn from the Object and that is two-fold there is faith and the profession of this faith that is to be held fast and there are Arguments from both First Faith hold fast faith why are we so greatly concerned and so highly obliged to hold fast Faith I will give you this one reason for it it is the most holy Faith There are many things may be called Faith that may not be called most holy Faith there are many faiths that are at least called holy Turkish faith is by them called holy faith the Romish faith is by them called holy faith I but this is the most holy faith there is an expression that Jude hath to commend faith to us in the 20 verse of his Epistle But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith c. Let other pretenders be as holy as they can they can never rise to the holiness of this this is the most holy faith it is so holy in so high a degree as to be beyond compare I but now what is it that may denominate this faith to be the most holy faith why it hath for its Author the most holy God it is the gift of God and the work of God if we take it for the Act of faith and the doctrine of God if we take it for the doctrine of faith There are as the Apostle saith gods many but we know but one most holy God there are that will be called your Holiness in the world but this is the most holy God a God that is glorious in holiness yea whose glory is to be holy There is nothing stamps glory on any subject like holiness what is the difference between the Angels in Heaven and the Angels in Hell but Holiness that is their glory the the holy Angels and that is their shame the sinful Angels and what was it that made Canaan a better land than another was it not the holiness it was the holy Land what was it that made the Temple a better place than another was it not because it was the holy Temple Yea it is the glory of all the Attributes of God that they are holy His Justice would look like severity but that it is holy His Power would look like Tyranny were it not holy His Love would look like fondness were it not holy His Patience would look like a toleration of sin were it not holy therefore it is said the Lord God glorious in holiness Now this most holy God is the Author of this Faith and so it is a most holy faith it being the Word of the most holy God and will you leave and not hold fast this most holy Faith But then besides It may be âaid to be the most holy faith in this sence too that it is its nature where ever it comes to make the subject in whom it is most holy saith the Apostle you hath God chosen to wit by Faith to be a peculiar people a holy Nation Acts 15.2 it is said He hath purified their hearts by faith and he will give them an ânheritance among them that are sanctified by faith It may be called the most Holy Faith in these two respects First Considering the operation and effects it hath upon the hearts and lives of them in whom it is it makes them a holy People beyond all the people in the world And then upon this account too as to the uhimate effects of it that it admits us into the most holy places You know the Holy of Holies in the Temple was a Type of Heaven and Jesus Christ is said to enter into the Holy of Holies that is into Heaven Now this doth admit us into the most holy place where the most holy God is saith the Apostle Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the bloud of Jesus Alas in the time of old they could go but into the outward court but now saith he We have all this boldness to enter into the most holy place by the bloud of Jesus Shall we leave such a Faith as this shall we not hold fast the most holy Faith that is from the most holy God that makes the most holy people and that admits us into the most holy place Where do we find such another Faith as this is if you leave this Faith that is so good in it self a Faith that doth so much good to us and which is better that makes us so good for it is much better to be made good than to have good done unto us and beloved what will it avail us if God should do us good all our days if we be not made good if we should have the good of health and wealth and long life and yet not be made good all this while it avails us not now this is the nature of Faith it is good in it self it doth good to us and it makes us good therefore beloved let us not lay it aside until we can find a better and that we shall never do unless we can find any thing more holy than God But secondly The second Branch of the Object is the Profession of our Faith It seems Beloved it is not enough to hold fast our Faith only but the Profession of it why so truly there is this in it the profession of faith is as necessary as the faith it self mark that See this from the mouth of that great Apostle I may say from the mouth of God himself Rom. 10.9 10. That if thou shalt with thy mouth confess thy Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation An unprofessed Faith hath no salvation annexed to it you see the Scripture maketh it as necessary to our salvation to profess our believing as to believe Now beloved if it be necessary to believe and necessary to profess it s then necessary to hold fast Faith and consequently as necessary to hold fast the profession thereof without Faith there is no salvation faith the Scripture and saith this Scripture without the profession of this Faith there is no Salvation now to say I will keep faith I will only part with a little profession it is all one in Scripture as to part with Faith it self for why the Scripture faith If thou believe with thy heart and confess with thy mouth thou shalt be saved so that as long as faith continues profession is to continue or there is no salvation faith without profession will do no more for you than profession without faith therefore observe what the Apostle speaks Heb. 3.13 saith he We are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end not else Thirdly A third Argument is drawn from the act with the qualifications let 's hold fast without wavering Now there
and by our lively trust through the Covenant of Grace on our part let there be such a unity between Christ and us that all the powers of Hell may not be able to separate us from thee speak peace to our hearts still our consciences say I have received a sacrifice for you I shall befriend you I will be just and faithful to forgive your sins my Law is sully fulfilled by another though broken by you my Justice is fully satisfied by another though provoked by you my wrath is ceased by the means of another though incensed by you Oh Lord what a cordial would this be canst not thou amongst this great multitude of people espy some that through the Spirit of thy Son would worship thee in thine own way speak peace to every such soul Is there any soul before thee O Lord to whom thou hast given the grace of desire O lord give them grace according to their desire and thou which didst regard us when we were running from thee do not reject us now we are drawing near thee And thou which bidst us believe by the command of thy Word help us to believe by the operation of thy Spirit draw us that we may be able to follow thee thy loving kindness is better than life Some do say Who will shew us any good But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us and thou wilt glad our hearts more than in the time when Corn or wine or Oil increaseth Let it be fair above head when it is dirty below let us see one contrary in another let us confute an eye of sense with an eye of faith and when we come to see nothing here that can gratifie our senses let us have something to quiet our souls We would fain be at war with sin that we may be at peace with thee though we cannot return as much as we have received yet help us to return as much as we can give us repentance unto life epentance from dead works a mourning fat greater for the remembrance of sin than we have pleasure in the committing of sin those secret distempers in our souls that no eye sees but thine let us cry out Wretched men that we are who should deliver us from this body of sin And as the fear of condemnation doth decrease so set the fear of transgression increase And because O Lord thou hast not made us to bleed with thy greatness O Lord make us to blush with thy goodness let us as truely desire that Heaven would enter into us into a way of holiness here as we desire to enter into Heaven in the way of happiness hereafter Let us see that our kindness to sin is cruelty to our Saviour let net that live quietly one minuite with us that would not let Christ live let us see there is nothing small by which the great God is offended and an immortal soul is damned We are to be in the world but for a while to take a turn or two and be gone Oh that we might make it the business of our life to get into Christ though it be the scorn of men and burdensome to nature yet this is that which will bring us peace at last Let us be what we profess our selves to be let us love Christ and evangelically keep his commandements let us live by faith let us keep thy Commandements let us be above the world in the world above the love of life and above the fear of death let not the smiles of the world allure us nor the frowns thereof affright us from thee but in all these things let us be more than conquerers through Jesus Christ Let us love him much whom we cannot love too much Help us to be above the power of Hell let us ever say My soul it is good for me to draw nigh to God Let us be willing rather to be faved with a few than go to Hell in a crowd let us live as if Eternity were long and life but short let us thrive in holiness and be brought neerer to thy self by every dispensation let us in this our day know the things that concern our peace before they be hid from our eyes and know the time of our visitation and though God suffer long he will strike at last O Lord bow the heavens and come down among us at this time and be with the unworthiest of thy servants and give unto him a door of utterance and to thin great people a door of entrance and let them be all taught of God and let them truly find that the great God is teaching to the heart when that a weak worm is speaking to the ear let all the work be done by theo and let all he praise redound unto thee and let him that is with us be greater than he that is in the world behold us in the Son of thy love smell aswee savor of rest on these our poor prayers speak peace to our consciences rebuke the tempter tread him under our feet shortly raise us up to newness of life let us remember when that which is perfect is rome that which is imperfect shall be done away Hear us and help us through our dear Redeemer let us live for him here and with him hereafter and all for his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory to whom with thee and thy Sprit be Glory and Honour now an for ever Amen Mr. Cradocott's Prayer at St. Sepulchres MOst glorious and most gracious Lord God who art God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hast put thine own Name and stamp upon this Day wilt thou be pleased to appear now and prepare and dispose our unprepared and indisposed souls for holy Observation of this thine holy day Will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit and influences of his Grace whereby we may be inabled to offer up spiritual Sacrifice which may be acceptable to Jesus Christ Lord thou requirest praying hearts but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books and if thou wilt give us the Spirit of Prayer we shall not need them Lord give us praying hearts at this time let us find by experience that the Sabbath is a day of Souls opportunity that thine Ordinances are full of marrow that thou hast not said unto thy Children the seed of Jacob seek my face in vain VVe acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven we have cause enough to cry out God be merciful to us sinners undeserving ill-deserving men and women we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty heirs of death children of darkness slaves to sin captives to lust dead to sins and trespasses how are our understandings darkned and our hearts-hardened what are our hearts but a store house of malicious thoughts a brothel house of adultery a palace of pride we are by nature
it is to be ashamed to sigh over our sins and groan over our iniquities I how few out of tenderness do mouru for sin but as if it were indifferent to us whether we have our sins purdoned or the grace that we beg to be granted and if we do beg to be pardoned where are the souls that desire to be purged If thou shouldst let us have our wills Oh then we should think thou wert a good God whereas it is thy great Love that thou dost deny us our wills we poor wretche we are up and down as the things of this world do come into us and go from us if God give us great things then we think our selves in Paradise and if God take from us then we fall out with God himself Oh! how ill do we take it at thy hands if thou dost not give us what we would or take from us what we would The doctrine of self-denial is a meer riddle to us we would fain spend the strength of our youth in following the lust of the eye and gratifie our sensual affections and when we come to die it may be we would have a Lord have mercy upon us in our mouths and think it strange if God should not give us what we ask O Lord convince us now that we may be willing to be crucified to the world and to die to sin Lord we may flatter with our selves but our hearts do but abuse us while we think there is such contentment in the enjoying of this world what is this when we come to die Alas if we were not besotted content is sooner gained by self-denial than by pleasing our selves Can we think we shall be at ease till we come to God Is it like to be well with us while our wayes are contrary to the wayes of God are not thy waies the waies of peace Oh! how can we be at rest when our waies are contrary to thine Oh! un-lust us we had better part from our idols here that that they should part us from God hereafter Lord if there were no other hell this is damnation to be a sinne for this is the nature of sin to separate us from God Oh help us to account the reproaches of Christ better than the honors of the Cross of Christ better than the Crown of the world O shew us the sinfulness of sin and the emptiness of the world that we may take thy Counsel and mind thy Glory and be ruled by thy Will Oh how happy would it be with us if our souls were brought into such a frame We are Lord as yet great strangers to the life of God Oh! let us know what it is to live with thee and to thee and with thee that we may say For us to live in Christ and to die is gain and that we may say Whom have we in Heaven but thee O Lord We depend upon thee let thy goodness be seen do not put us off with the means of grace but give us grace it self And seeing thou art pleased to make use of such a poor thing as the preaching of the Gospel is and seeing this is the means to bring our souls to eternal life Oh let it be so to us that we may repent from sin and believe in the righteousness of the Gospel Oh Lord thou knowest all our frailties and all our necessities find out them that are dead in sins and quicken them find out the hard hearts and soften them find out the proud hearts and humble them find out the formalists and bring them to the power of godliness and pour in wine and oyl into the wounds of the wounded in spirit and let the administration of the Gospel be in the demonstration of the Spirit that as the truth is delivered to us we may be delivered to the truth that while we touch the hem of thy garment Vertue may come out from thee Thou hast said that mercy pleaseth thee we are sure it will pleasure us Oh let us not loose our time but do thou teach us to profit and supply our wants for the sake of our dear Lord to whom with Thee and thy Spirit be given more Glory from now unto eternity Nr. G. N. his Prayer TO thee O Lord Jesus we commend our selves To thee who judgeth rightly thy poor Servant resigneth and commiteth this Congregation The Lord pardon unto me wherein I have been wanting unto them The Lord pardon unto them wherein they have been wanting in the hearing of thy Word that we may not part with sin in our hearts Unto thee who judgest uprightly I commend them The Bishop of Souls take care of them Preserve them from the love of the World teach them to wait on thee and to receive from thee whatevor any one or Family may stand in need of Provide them a Pastor according unto thine own will only in the mean time give us that Anointing shall lead us out of our own wells and waies that we may walk in the waies of Christ Jesus The Lord Jesus say now amongst them I am your Shepheard you shall not want Say to them as thou didst to thy Disciples Let not your hearts be troubled you beleeve in the Father beleeve also in me So far as we are able we put thy Name upon them we name the Name of the Lord Jesus over them The Lord Jesus bless them teach them to follow Holiness Peace and a Heavenly Conversation The Lord make them usefull to each other The Lord Jesus be a blessing to them and me and all ours The God of Peace and Consolation fill them with blessings according as thou seest every one stand in need of To thee O Lord we commend then do thou receive them that under thy counsel they may be preserved blameless until the day Jesus where we may all meet crowned with Glory Amen FINIS Mr. GEORGE THORNE of Weymouth HIS FAREWEL-SERMON PSAL. 37.34 Wait on the Lord and keep his Way NOt knowing whether ever I shal speak to you more from this place being willing to leave a word in season I shall recommend to you what in answer to prayer I have recived of the Lord for the directing me in my course in this gloomy dark day being well assured that as many of us as work by this rule and fall by this compass how ever we may be scatered by the tewpestuous storms we meet with here in the Sea of this World shall shortly arrive at and meet in our desired Port the Haven of Eternal Rest and Happiness What therefore the Lord hath said to me and that with a strong hand that say I unto you in the Name of the Lord Wait on the Lord and keep his VVay The scope of this Psalm is to direct the People of God and to encourage them to keep on in the course of Godliness at such times as when the Wicked prosper flourish and grow great and the godly are afflicted trouble persecuted and oppressed And there are two
general parts of the Psalm intermixtly spoken unto throughout The one is for Direction The other for Encouragement The text appertains to the former part And the sum of the Directions may be reduced unto two Heads First That they take head of such inward Commotions and Perturbations of Spirit as through the remainder of Corruption they are subject unto and by the temptations of Satan and the provocations of wicked Men they will be put upon through this occasion More particularly he forewarnes them to take heed of Envy Vers 1 7. and of Aanger Vers 8. And what need there is at such a time to watch against the exorbitant workings of these Passions none that observe their own hearts can well be ignorant such being the unworthy insolent and provoking Carriage of the Wicked toward the poor people of God as is able as we may say to move a Saint Hence that of Psalm 73.23 But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well-nigh slipt for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked Attend therefore to the Counsel of the Holy Ghost Fret not thy self because of evil-doers neither be thou envious at the workers of iniquity Fret not thy self because of him that prospereth in his way because the man that bringeth wicked devices to pass Cease from anger and forsake wrath Fret not thy self in any wise to do evill Secondly That they so carry themselves towards the Lord in keeping on in their way of following him as becomes those that firmly believe and steadfastly hope in him for his Salvation There are many particular directions to this purpose vers 3. Trust in the Lord and do good vers 4. Delight thy self also in the Lord ver 5. Commit thy way unto the Lord ver 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him ver 27. Depart from evil and do good and here in that text Wait on the Lord and keep his way These words contain Advice and Counsel for the People of God and it is considerable either with respect to the troubles and temptations of the people of God in general or with respect to that particular that is immediately touched on before the text ver 33. The wicked watcheth the righteous and seeketh to slay him Upon this something is spoken by way of encouragement to the Righteous ver 33. The Lord will not leave him in his hand nor condemn him when he is judged Though he may let him fall into the hands of the Wicked he will not leave him there though the Wicked may sit in Judgement on him and pass sentence against him yet the Lord will not condemn him yea when he is judged he is chastened of the Lord that he should not be condemned with the World Thus for the encourgement of the Righteous 2. There is something by way of direction in the words read VVait on the Lord and keep his Way From the words consider under this double reference we have this profitable point of Doctrine However it go with the truly Godly in this world more especially when the Wicked watch the Righteous to do them a mischief it is their best way to wait on the Lord and keep his way I shall not spend time to shew you who are truly Godly and who are Wicked It is said of the Godly man ver 31. the Law of God is in his heart Such then as from the Law of God in their hearts have respect to all his Commandments walking in all the Statutes and Ordinances of God blameless Luke 1.6 such are truly Godly And such as from the dominion of sin in them are evill Doers workers of Iniquity walking according to the Lusts of the flesh and of the mind according to the course of this world of the Prince of the Power of the Air c. they are wicked In the handling of this point according to my wonted method I shall speak first to what is supposed and then to what is expresly laid down Here are two things supposed in this point the one more General the other more Particular First In General 'T is supposed that the condition of the truly godly may be full of troubles afflictions and distresses in this world for when 't is said However it may go with the truly godly the meaning is how evilly how badly soever though they be never so much troubled afflicted and distressed wherein it is supposed that it may go very ill that the truly godly may be full of troubles sufferings and distresses this not only plainly held forth in Scripture in such texts as these Psa 34.19 John 16.33 Acts 14.22 but so sadly experienced in all ages that we need not spend time in the clearing of it Secondly More particularly It is supposed That is the manner and guise of the wicked to watch the Righteous to mischief them so verse 32. and verse 12. The wicked plotteth against the just or as the margent practiseth i. e. his wit and skill his labour and judgment is employed against him and vers 14. The wicked have drawn their sword and bent their how to cast down the poor and needy and to slay such as be of upright conversation so psal 64.2 the Psalmist prays Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity who whet their tongues like a sword and bend their bows to shoot their arrows even bitter words that they may shoot at secret in the perfect suddenly do they shoot at him and fear not so we read in that Isai 29.20.21 of those that watch for iniquity that make a man an offender for a word that lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate and that turn aside the just for a thing of naught Thus it hath been over since the beginning So wicked Cain watched righteous Abel to kill him Gen. 4.8 and Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass that when they were in the field that Cain rose up against his brother Abel and slew him And thus have Cain's brood done all down along for he was of the wicked one 1 John 3.12 so hath Esdu watched righteous Jacob Gen. 27 41.42 comforting himself that he should shortly have a time to do him the mischief that he intended him so Saul watcheth righteous David 1 Sam. 19.11 Saul sent messengers to David house to watch him and stay him in the morning And so did others his wicked adversaries watch him as you have him complaining psal 38.12 They that seek after my life lay snares for me and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things and imagine deceit all the day long And Psal 140.5 The proud have laid a snare for me and cords they have spread a net by the way side they have set giâs for me So did Jeremiah's Familiars as he calls them Jer. 20.10 For I heard the defaming of many fear on every side Report say they and we
The keeping of it in your memories judgements and profession will be but in vain unless you keep it in your hearts Lay up and hide the Word of God in your hearts let the desire and delight of your soul be in the Way of the Lord with the Psal 119.111 Thy Testimonies have I taken for mine heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart 'T is the Caracter of the Godly man Psal 1.1 2. He delighteth in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night 5. Keep the VVay of the Lord in your lives and conversation walking therein conscientiously observing the Commandments of God to do accordingly I am speaking to those who have chosen the way of the Lord to walk in and they may read what the Lord saith in that Deut. 5.32 You shall observe to do as the Lord your God hath commanded you you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left you shall walk in all the Wayes that the Lord your God hath commanded you and to as many as walk according to this rule peace shall be upon them and upon the Israel of God Having this opened this Duty take these few Directions among the many that might be given 1 Let the Spirit of Christ be your guide and principle I am speaking unto such as have the Spirit of Christ Now if you consult that Ezek 36.27 You shall find that the Lord promiseth his people that he will put his Spirit within them and to what promise viz. both to encline enable and guide them to walk in his Statutes and to observe his Commandmenâs to do them There is no entring into the way of the Lord but by the Spirit Joh. 3 3. we all naturally being gon astray wander from the way of the Lord and it is the spirit only that can and doth reduce men into this way and the best being but lame and having not only a principle of halting in but declining from it there is no walking in this Way but by the assistance and guidance of the Spirit Let therefore the Spirit of God be your guide it is comprised that he shall lead you into all truth John 16.13 Let the spirit be your principle walk in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 then you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh but shall keep the way of the Lord. 2. Make the Word of God your rule I have heretofore from that John 6 39. and 1 Tim. 3.15 and several other places cleared to you that it is given of God for this end to be the rule both for Faith and Practice Keep therefore unto this and by no meanes depart from this if you would keep the Way of the Lord. Here you have the Lord revealing his Way and that clearly and plainly so that the most simple that apply themselves to it may understand it the Scriptures are a perfect and a constant rule Therefore as in that Isa 8.26 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them There are some that make the Light within their rule and that in opposition to the Word but the Light in such is Darkness for if they speak not according to this Word if it be but diverse from though not directly opposite unto it then there is no light in them Indeed the Light within that is Concience enlightned is a rule but it is Regula Regulata a Ruled Rule There is Regula Regulans and Regula Regulata A Ruling Rule and a Ruled Rule The former is a Rule to the latter by which it is to be tryed and approved The Word of God is a Ruling Rule and Conscience is a Ruled Rule which is to be obeyed as far as it speaks according to the Word and no further If therefore you would keep the Way of the Lord do not despise Conscience do not neglect the Light within but make it not thy Rule make the Word of God thy Rule admit not of any thing that is belonging to the Way of the Lord that is not grounded upon or not warranted by his Word If you would keep the Way of the Lord hold fast to what is written stick to the Word That saying of Austin is famous Sive de Christo sive de Ecclesia sive de quacunque alia re non dico si nos sed si Angelus sed coelo vobis annunciaverit praeterquam quod in Scripturis accipistes Anathema sit Not to say If we but if an Angel from heaven shall preach any thing of Christ or of the Church or of any other thing besides what ye have received in the Scripture let him be accursed Like to that Gal. 1.8 9. The Word is the heavenly Compass whereby we may be directed to steer our course aright to the Haven of happiness Keep you to the Word while one says this is the way and another that Try all things by the Rule of the Word and make that your Rule to walk by Hence when Paul was taking his leave of the Church at Ephesus in that Acts 20. in his Farewel-Sermon that after his departure they might keep the way of the Lord you may read what he commends to them verse 32. And your brethren I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those that are sanctified He commends the Word of God to them So Beloved now that I may no more speak to you from this place for the teaching of you the right and the good way I recommend to you the Word of the Lord which will be a light to your feet and a Lanthorn to your paths to guide you in the Way of the Lord till you attain the end of your Faith the Salvation of your souls What knowledge I have of the way of the Lord what I have taught you of the way of the Lord I have been taught by the Spirit of the Lord through the Word and though you want the great help of a plain powerful and faithful Ministry for the future yet let not those that are sincere in desiring to walk in the way of the Lord be discouraged by those who would make them believe that the Word is hard to be understood for that as it is more from malignity in us than difficulty in the Scriptures that the most do not understand them so they are easie to be understood by them that sincerely endeavour it being not onely most plain and clear in teaching the way of the Lord but also appointed to enlighten the eyes and make wise the simple Psal 19 7 8. Yea the entrance of it giveth light it giveth understanding to the simple Psal 119.130 And how weak and simple soever any of the Saints may be in worldly matters and in the Worlds account yet of them all is that spoken 1 John 2.27 But the anointing which ye have received of him
A Compleat COLLECTION OF Farewel Sermons Preached by Mr. Calamy Dr. Manton Mr. Caryl Mr. Case Mr. Jenkins Mr. Baxter Dr. Jacomb Dr. Bates Mr. Watson Mr. Lye Mr. Mead. Dr. Seaman Mr. Venning Mr. Brooks Mr. Collings Mr. Newcomen Mr. Beerman Mr. Cradacott Mr. Sclater Mr. Pledger Mr. Bull. Mr. Lamb. Mr. Wadsworth Mr. Cooper Mr. G. N. Mr. Gaspine Mr. Evank Mr. George Thorn TOGETHER With Mr. Ash his Funeral Sermon Mr. Nalton's Funeral Sermon Mr. Lye's Rehearsal at the conclusion of the last Morning Exercise at Alhallowes Lombard-street Mr. Calamy's Sermon Preached at Aldermanbury Decemb. 28th last And Mr. Watson's Sermon against Popery With their several Prayers Revised and Corrected from the many Faults of former Editions and now Collected into one entire Volume more perfect than any other extant containing 42 Sermons London Printed in the Year 1663. The CONTENTS MR. Calamy's Sermon on 2 Sam. 24.14 2 Dr. Manton on Heb. 12.1 3 Mr. Caryl on Rev. 3. v. 4. latter part 4 Mr. Case on Rev. 2.5 5 Mr. Jenkin's forenoon Sermon on Heb. 11.38 the former part of that Verse Mr. Jenkin's afternoon Sermon on Exod. 3.2 3 4 5. Verses 6 Mr. Baxter on Colos 2.6 7 7 Dr. Jacomb's forenoon Sermon on Joh. 8.28 Dr. Jacomb's afternoon Sermon on the same 8 Dr. Bate's forenoon Sermon on Heb. 13.20 21. Verses Dr. Bate's afternoon Sermon on the same 9 Mr. Watson's forenoon Sermon on John 13.34 Mr. Watson's afternoon Sermon on 2 Cor. 7.1 Mr. Watson's Sermon August 19. on Esay 3.10 11 10 Mr. Lyes first Sermon on Phil. 4.1 Mr. Lyes second Sermon on the same 11 Mr. Mead on 1 Cor. 1.3 12 Mr. Galamie's Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Ash on Esay 57.1 13 Dr. Seaman on Heb. 13.20 21. 14 Mr. Venning on Heb. 10.23 15 Mr. Newcomen on Rev. 3.3 16 Mr. Brook's Sermon 17 Mr. Collins on Jude ver 3 18 Dr. Horton's Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Nalton on 2 Cor. 4.7 19 Mr. Beerman 20 Mr. Lye at Conclusion of the Morning Exercise in Lombard-street on John 13.17 21 Mr. Cradacott on Phil. 4. latter part verse 9 22 Mr. Bull of Newington's forenoon Sermon on John 14.16 Mr. Bull 's afternoon Sermon on Acts 20.32 23 Mr. Pledger on Rev. 2.9 10 24 Mr. Lamb on John 14.23 25 Mr. Sclater on 1 John 5.1 26 Mr. Calamy's Sermon December 28. on 1 Sam. 4.13 27 Mr. Gaspine's two Sermons on Luke 12.32 28 Mr. Evank on Mat. 26.39 29 Mr. Cooper's two Sermons on Phil. 4.9 30 Mr. Wadsworth on Rev. 2.5 31 Mr. G. N. on Rom. 8.38 39 32 Mr. Watson against Popery 1 Cor. 10.14 PRAYERS of several of these Divines 33 Mr Thorn of Waymouth on Psal 37.34 MASTER Calamys Sermon Preached August 17. 1662. 2 Sam. 24.14 And David said unto Gad I am in a great strait let us fall now into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man IN which words we have three Parts 1. Davids great perplexity distress I am in a great strait 2. Davids Resolution 1. Affirmative Let us fall into the hands of the Lord. 2. Negative Let me not fall into the hands of man 3. We have the Reasons of Davids choice for the Mercies of God are great The mercies of wicked men are cruel therefore let me not fall into the hands of men but the mercies of God are many and great therefore let us now fall into the hands of God 1. For the first that is Davids great distress wherein we must speak 1. To the distress it self Then 2. To the person thus perplexed I am in a great strait David a great man David a Godly man 1. In the perplexity it self we shall consider 1. The reality of this perplexity 2. The greatness of it 1. For the reality of it after David had sinned in numbring the people God sends the Prophet Gad to him and puts three things to his choice as you may read in vers 12. God was determined to make David smart for numbring the people but leaves it to Davids liberty whether he would have seven years famine or three moneths to flee before his enemies or three dayes pestilence This was a posing question and David had cause to be in a great strait for these objects are not amiable in their own nature they are objects to be avoided and declined in the first view of them they seem to be equally miserable therefore David had cause to say he was in a strait 2. This perplexity was not only real but exceeding great I am in a great strait and there were two things made this so great 1. The greatness of the punishments proposed Famine Sword and Plague these are the three Besomes with which God sweeps mankind from off the Earth these are Gods three Iron whips by which he chastiseth sinful man these are the three Arrows shot out of the Quiver of Gods wrath for the punishment of man they are as one calleth them Tonsurae humani generis In Rev. 6. you shall read of four Horses when the four first Seals were opened a white Horse a red Horse a black Horse and a pale Horse After Christ had ridden on the white Horse propagating the Gospel then follows the red Horse a type of War then the black Horse an Hieroglyphick of Famine then the pale Horse the emblem of Pestilence Now God was resolved to ride on one of these Horses and David must chuse upon which God should ride this is a great strait let me present Davids lifting up his eyes to Heaven and speaking to God thus O my God what is this message thou hast sent me thou offerest me three things I am in a strait I know which to resuse but which to chuse I know not Shall the Land of Canaan a Land flowing with milk and honey shall this Land endure seven years Famine and be turned into a Wilderness and dispeopled and shall I whose hands thou hast taught to fight and whose fingers to war shall I that have subdued all mine enemies shall I in my old age and all my Captains fly three months before our enemies and be driven to Caves and Rocks to hide our selves O thou my God who art my refuge shall I and my people be a prey to the Pestilence that walketh in darkness and destruction that walketh at noon day O my God I know not what to do I am in a great strait 2. The second reason why this strait was so great was because of the guilt of sin that lay on Davids spirit for David knew that this severe message was the fruit of the sin he committed in numbring the people But you will say Why was it a sin in David to number the people Moses had often numbred the people three times and it was not counted sin Josephus answereth the sin of David was because he did not require the half shekel which he was to have had from all that were numbered Exod. 30.12 13.
freely possessing all things The VVorld may put us into a sad estate as to the VVorld yet we are not out of our white garments always rejoycing Heb. 3.13 Although the Fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat and the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls this cannot take away the VVhite garments no saith the Prophet Yet will I rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of my Salvation 'T is a conquering joy turns all sorrow into joy and blackness to VVhite therefore keep clean Thirdly Consider this this VVhite of peace and joy as 't is a joy unconquerable so 't is that will be with us most when we most need it when VVorldly joys are farthest from us then this joy will be near to us that is a marvellous comfort to have comfort in its season The Martyrs who have kept themselves VVhite have had this VVhite and walkt in this VVhite but when they have most need of it and come Actually to suffering then they have had most of it This is a blessed thing this the Martyrs of Jesus Christ hath given witness of although they have had peace and joy in their consciences at other times yet never so much as in the hour of temptation VVhen they have been cast into the Cole-house they have had white garments when they have been cast into prisons and dungeons how have they rejoyced 'T is said of Paul and Silas they were men that kept their garments undefiled and they had a great deal of peace and joy when they were put in the flocks and dungeon then they sung at midnight what an enlargement of heart had they at that time So in the stories of ancient and latter times how have they rejoyced and gone triumphing to the Gibbet for then Christ gives most of this White It hath been the use of persecutors to put filthy garments upon the Martyrs drawing Pictures of Devils upon them and as their malice hath risen to the height that in the time of sufferings to make them look like Devils then the love of Christ hath risen to the height and they have been full of peace and joy at that time therefore be encouraged to walk with Christ in this White This White is an Angelical Habit 't is an unconquerable Habit and 't is that will be with us most when we have most need of it I should have added a third that walking with Christ is an honour and 't is walking in the White of peace and joy So thirdly 't is a truth of walking with Christ in the White of glory as in the Transfiguration which was a Type of Heaven his Rayment was White so as no Fuller on earth was able to whiten it and that is it which I might have spoken of to you that they who keep their garments undesiled here shall be sure of that to walk with Christ in glory hereafter If we should miss of the White of honour and have not much of the White of joy yet be sure we shall walk with Christ in the White of Glory I would only say this to you That as I have from this Text and many more laboured to bring poor souls into a White state to a state of Justification to a state of Holiness and as I have been pressing you to keep your garments White that you may be in the Habit of White as your Reward so it shall be the desire and prayers of ray heart that if I should have no more opportunities among you that as you have been stirred up to get into this White of Grace that you and I may meet in the White of Glory where we shall never part Here are three Whites The White of Honour is good the White of Peace and Joy is very good the White of Glory is best of all that is the answer of all our prayers and that is the issue of all our working then we shall have as much as we can hold for ever Mr. Case's Sermon Revel 2.5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove the Candlestick out of his place except thou repent CHrist here prescribes precious Physick for the healing of this languishing Church of Ephesus 'T is compounded of a threefold ingredient 1. Self reflexion Remember from c. 2. Holy contrition and humiliation before the Lord Repent 3. Through Reformation Do thy frst Works I left the last time upon the second of these namely Repentance and that which I did upon this part of Christs advice was not so much to open to you the nature of Repentance which is not so proper for this place as to give in a Catalogue or List of such special sins as Christ doth expect that all his people in these three Nations should lay to heart and repent of before the Lord I gave you in a List of eleven special sins that we should repent of and humble our selves for before the Lord. As 1. Omission of Duty Prayer reading the Word Meditation c. any thing will be for excuse to say by duties and we are secretly glad of an excuse 2. Remisness of Duty In things of the World we are all in all and all in every part a man cannot thrust another thought into us but in prayer how many things are we doing 3. Hypocrisie How unlike are we at home to what abroad and in company to what in secret 4. Pride In Apparel Houses Parts Blood Birth-right yea of Grace it self of Humility Ministers Ordinances c. 5. Covetousness Never did Covetousness invade the professing party as now The more goods men get the less good they do 6. Sensuality Voluptuousness Wantonness Christians let themselves loose to the Creature lay out their affections on things below as if part in the Serpents curse as well as their own 7. Animosities and Divisions among Christians many have been active to kindle but few to quench Divisions 8. Vncharitable censuring one another 9. Formality in Duty Witness 1. Unprepared coming 2. Unsuitableness of spirit to And 3. want of reflexion after duty how we have sped what we have got Sabbaths Sacraments comes and goes Monday morning finds us the same as before 10. Mis-spent Sabbaths some prophane others idle away the Sabbath c. 11. Neglect of our Bibles in our families and closets I pray God it forego not some great evil coming upon you as before the massacre in Germany it was observed c. I proceed 12. That want of mutual forbearance among Christians Alas Christians know not how to bear one with another in the least kind of measure Oh the short-spiritedness among Christians they cannot bear one anothers burthens they cannot bear with one another 'T is very sad that we that stand in need of so much forbearance should
taken with them Many a wicked man when he hears a holy man make an excellent Oration wishes that he could do so too it is not from the goodness he observes in it or the principle from whence it comes but from something of natural accomplishments that he is taken with it so a godly man when he hears another pray excellently and live holily he wishes from his heart that he could do so too his aim is to grow in holiness Fourthly The present priviledges of the people of God not onely what they shall have hereafter but what they have here they are freed from a world of evils that worldlings lie under whatever befals them turns to their benefit they may be afflicted but not hurt by affliction the greatest hurt the world does to them tends to their greatest good Worldlings may take away their heads they cannot their crowns there is a real communication of a blessed interest in all that is good for they have an interest in all that God hath or is the power of God is theirs to protect them the love of God is set upon them the righteousness of God imputed to them so as to acquit them from sin so that a Child of God may not onely appeal to the bowels of Gods mercy but to the bar of his justice all the providences of God shall tend to their good In Psal 25.10 the Holy Ghost says All the ways of God are mercy and truth to them that are in covenant with him they are mercy because they are appointed to do them good and truth because they shall certainly do them good Christ and God and all is laid out for the good of a godly man In this world they may go to God and tell him wherein they are troubled pained or afflicted and they are never more welcome then when they ask most from him if thou ask great things from God God is well taken with such requests but if thou ask Riches and Honours these are the low things of the foot-stool God is exceedingly taken with thee when thou askest Peace and Pardon Peace of Conscience Pardon of sin strength against sin power to overcome thy Lusts to withstand temptations The people of God may have from God all that they want and all that they can regularly wish Fifthly These are such as have an incomparable dear and near relation to God they are his delight they are set apart by God as his own his peculiar people though God have a propriety in all yet he hath a peculiar propriety in and a relation to these therefore they are called his children his house his jewels his garden Gods whole treasure and portion is his people as God is his peoples portion so his people are his portion they are those he hath been at a great deal of cost to purchase Sixthly They are such as have the image of God imprinted upon them take notice of this word image for the image of God appears in holiness Now an image does not represent any thing of imperfection or deformity but of excellency If a man takes the picture of a man he will not take it of his back-side or leg or hand or the like but of his face his beautifullest part is chiefly aimed at in the picture Wicked men discover Gods bounty in having wit and wealth this is not the image of God the image of God is that which is most excellent in a man which is holiness the power of God is the hand of God the wisdom of God is the eye of God the holiness of God is the face the beauty of God the people of God resemble God in purity Be ye holy as your heavenly Father is holy there 's the pattern they have the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world as it is in Ephes 4.18 Having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart Rom. 3.23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God There is more of God in grace then in all the works that ever God did in the world beside there is much of God seen in making the Sun Moon and Stars but in giving a man a new nature a renewed understanding in changing of a man from being a vessel of wrath and vessel of Satan in making of him become a new man a vessel of glory God shews more of himself then in making ten thousand worlds Vse Here I shall raise these following inferences If it be so that there is such an excellency in the people of God here then first what excellency shall there be seen on the people of God in heaven If they are so beautiful in their Rags what will they be when they appear in their Robes The glory of Christ shall be admired in them that believe Oh what a Head is he that hath such Members what a Lord is he that hath such attendance The people of God are in a state of non-appearance now hereafter it shall appear what they are the very wicked themselves shall admire them 2. Inference What have we to think of those that have no regard either for Religion or for Religious ones any farther forth then it is deck'd and adorned with advantagious beauty and outward glory If Religion be not lookt upon with a favourable eye from Authority farewel Religion and Religiousness These love the child for the Nurses sake what is the thing in fashion these are for what Authority commands they 'll creep and cringe to when the Deer is shot the Herd flies from her when Religion is shot at then farewell Religion What is this but to have the Faith of God in respect of persons If I love Religion for the countenance of Authority then it is certain I love Reliligion for the Authorities sake this is a sign thou shalt not have communion with those hereafter that thou contemnest here If the people of God are too bad for thee when they are in trouble and affliction they will be too good for thee in glory 3. Inference Note here the excellency of holiness above worldly glory Here a man is dignified by what is conferr'd upon him when outward honour ceaseth the man is contemned but holiness it dignifies a man and shall remain here and hereafter Set a Gyant in a valley he is a Gyant still a Pearl is a Pearl though on a Dunghil a holy man is a holy man though never so much disgrac'd and contemned by men John Baptist had a leathern girdle and had locusts for his food yet there was not a greater than John Baptist born of women He was the forerunner of Christ the friend of the Bridegroom On the other side Herod that was like the voice of God and not of man what was he
subjection to his Law If you will please God in all your actions look to this That what you do may bear some resemblance to his Nature and hold forth obedience to his Law Consult the will of God and in all things act in conformity to that will do not allow your selves in the Commission of any known sin for that will certainly displease God as it was said of David when he took Bathsheba to Wife but saith the Text the thing displeased the Lord. Do not Bank any known duty for that will displease God In a word be holy in all manner of conversation This being too general I shall not insist upon it only in a word more particularly Do those things now now make conscience of those duties which now lie upon you in the doing of which you will certainly please God and they are such as these Be stedfast in the ways of God in the midst of a back-sliding and apostatizing age stand fast to the Law of God Phil. 4.1 Contend for the faith which is delivered to the Saints ver 3. of the Epistle of Jude Be not ashamed to own Christ before all the world if you be ashamed of him on earth he will be ashamed of you in Heaven and wo be to that sinner whom Christ is ashamed to own Reckon reproaches for the name of Christ better than the pleasure of sin that is but for a season When God calleth you to it assert the purity and spirituality of Gospel-worship do not place Religion in a sew shadows where the substance is neglected but chiefly minde self-denial mortification crucifixion to the world keeping up close communion with God love the people of God whatever the world say or think of thee for God is highly pleased when he seeth his Children loved Keep up Religion in your Families whatever scorn or contempt is cast upon you Oh that you would labour to be of Abrahams spirit I know saith God he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen 18.19 I do not know any one better means for the keeping up Religion in this Nation than for Masters of Families to be consciencious in the discharging of this duty Be good in bad times be patterns of good works to those that shall behold you Let no reproach or obloquy make you to abate your exact walking with God whatever you meet withall in the ways of holiness and a strict life say If this be to be vile I will be more vile Make conscience of a strict observation of the Lords day take heed of that Sacriledge of stealing away holy times of prostituting that to common and civil uses which is impropriated and dedicated to the service of God Pray for and love all those that have been instrumental for your spiritual good in the work of the Ministry whatever dirt is now thrown in their faces and though you never get more good by them Forget not to distribute to the necessities of Gods people that are many of them in a low condition for this is a sacrifice of a sweet odour and well-pleasing to him Carry your selves with all patience and Christian meekness towards them that wrong you pray for them that are your enemies and when you are reviled revile not again but commit your selves to that God who judgeth righteously Do your duty to your superiors and to those that are in Authority So carry your selves that it may be with you as it was with Daniel they had nothing against him saving in the matter of his God Bank not any duty for suffering choose the greatest of suffering before the least of sin In a word so walk as it becometh the Gospel And finally I speak to you as the Apostle spoke to them Phil. 2.16 Hold forth the word of life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain The third use is for comfort to all those that do conscienciously endeavour in all things to please God the comfort lies in this you may suffer but when ever you suffer the Father will not leave you alone Pleasing of God does not secure a man from suffering from men sometimes it rather exposes a man to suffer from men But now though it does not prevent suffering yet it takes away the sting and venome of suffering it makes it to be like Sampsons Lion when it was slain he found nothing but honey in the belly of it Oh! the presence of God in a time of affliction is exceeding precious it turns gall into honey thorns into roses Be not troubled in your thoughts about what you may undergo if God be with you all will be well if God comes when the Crosses cometh the weight of it will not hurt you what is a Prison when God is there My brethren though estate leave you relations leave you all your comforts leave you so long as God doth not leave you it will be be well therefore do not fear be not dejected or discouraged Isa 43. 1 2. Fear not O Jacob why so when thou passest through the water I will be with thee We have more reason to be afraid of prosperity with Gods absence than of adversity with Gods presence A good God will make every condition to be good it is not a prison but a palace where God is they that do the things that please God whatever condition they may be brought to the Father will not leave them alone Ministers may leave you the means of Grace and Ordinances in a great measure may leave you your creature-enjoyments and comforts may leave you but here is a God that will never leave you Oh! bless his holy name Fourthly Is this pleasing of God a duty of so great importance and benefit then be tender and charitable in judging of those that do differ from you and others upon this account because they dare not displease God I may in this caution aim at my self and others of my brethren in the work of our Ministry but I am not here at present to take my last farewel I hope I may have a little further opportunity of speaking to you but if not let me require this of you to pass a charitable interpretation upon your laying down the exercise of our Ministry there is a greater Judge than you must judge us all at the great day and to this Judge we can appeal before Angels and men that it is not this thing or that thing that puts us upon this dissent but it is conscience toward God and fear of offending him I censure none that differ from me as though they displease God but yet as to my self should I do thus and thus I should certainly violate the peace of my own couscience and offend God which I must not do no not to secure my Ministry though that either is or ought to be dearer to me than my very life and how dear it is God
the greatest mercy in the world to rob such persons of their peace and to discover to them their danger they are onely capable of true peace by the knowledge of that which is false Therefore bring your selves to this tryal whether or no doth that peace which now you please your selves in cause in you an eternal hatred of sin doth it set you at a distance from your most beloved lusts then it is that peace that springs from God The greatest part of the world are in an estate of War with God though they do not feel the effects of that war True indeed God doth not always draw the sword either of Famine Pestilence or War against a Nation and yet they may be acting in a most hostile way against God So for a person God may not blast thy estate or send diseases upon thy person or raise a tumult in thy conscience and make a conspiracy of thy thoughts and passions against thy peace thou mayst be quiet within and yet have war with God because as in the world there may be a Truce when there is no peace the War may still continue though there is a Truce between two Princes or rather there is not a Truce between God and the sinner but as a Town that is besieged for many days may not feel the Battery of their Enemy because he is undermining them to blow them up at once so God doth not many times make his battery against sinners but he is under mining them and the fall at the last will be dreadful if there be not a composition Vse 2. By way of exhortation let me press you all to follow peace it is a duty which the Gospel injoyns with the greatest force of words and expressions The Apostle when he is to seal up his affection to them he doth it with that prayer 2 Thess 3.16 Now the God of peace himself give you peace always by all means What strange expressions First he gives you hear the Title of the God of peace and then he saith Himself the God of peace himself There 's a great deal of force in that word peace is so excellent a blessing and there is such an abhorrency in our corrupt nature to it that it is only the Lord himself that is able to effect it As if the Apostle had said the Lord must bow the heavens he must come down himself to create peace among you and to express the greater vehemency of his desire he saith Give you peace always by all means So another Scripture pursue peace follow peace with all men a word that imports our pursuit after it though it runs from us This is the strain and tenour of the Gospel and this becomes you as Christians When Christ came to purchase our peace he came as a Lamb an innocent and meek Creature Behold the Lamb of God When the holy Spirit descended to seal the priviledge of peace to us he descended in the form of a Dove a Gaul-less creature in whom there is no rancor nor bitterness What a strong engagement should this be upon all of us to pursue and promote peace And for your encouragement consider 1. That in the times of the Gospel all the promises do as it were empty themselves into this blessing the blessing of peace Thus Isai 11.6 you shall find there a gracious promise respecting the times of the Gospel The Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them and the Cow and the Bear shall seed their young ones shall lie down together and the Lyon shall eat straw like the Ox. That which I observe from thence is this that God here promises to cause an universal peace and unity under the Gospel though it be as difficult as to perswade the most disagreeing natures to a peaceable co-habition For here the Scripture instances in those creatures between which there is the most natural and therefore the most fierce animosities The Lord will reconcile men though their differences be never so great What is too hard for the God of Peace to effect Is not God of infinite power of infinite love then it should quicken us to pursue peace 1. By prayer to him because he is able to effect it certainly that God that was able to bring Order into the World when it was a meer lump and mass of confusion is able to bring peace and to unite our spirits And it is observable the greater our differences and divisions are the more will the power of this God appear in reconciling them 'T is said in the Psalms that Gods throne is in darkness that is his ways of Providence are very difficult for us to trace and find out and therefore when our divisions are at the highest he is able by one word to allay the storm This should encourage us in Prayer This is the course of God to glorifie himself by putting a stop to the greatest troubles when nearest to us and to work out one contrary by another To give you some instances that so we may encourage our Faith and quicken our Prayer to God for this blessing consider how still God hath made difficulties the way for enjoyment For instance the promise that Sarah should be the Mother of a child but he made way for that by her dead Womb for all that numerous Progeny which like the Stars of the Skie descended from her That he first maimed Jacob and then gave him the blessing He brought Joseph from the Prison to a Princely Palace First David was harassed with troubles and then his head was deckt with the Imperial Crown So if you look into the Kingdom of Christ who would have thought that a few Fishermen-men should have advanced the Empire of Christ in the World Had you lived to have seen those despicable beginnings when a few unlearned men were the Heraulds and Preachers of Christ how would this have caused you to fail and sink in your spirits and yet the Gospel hath been Preached in all parts of the World and that by a few Fisher-men The Providences of God are like those plated Pictures if you look one way upon them there is the appearance of a Serpent if you look on the other side there is the appearance of an Angel So here many times God is pleased to suffer exasperations to go very high that so his power may appear more eminent in the composure of them He it is that enables the faith of his people to draw Water out of the Rock when the Fountain is dry that makes meat to come out of the Eater as in Sampson's Riddle that is able to bring a peaceable harmony out of devouring differences and therefore it should quicken our prayers to him 2. To make us more serious in our endeavours after peace Consider what a dishonour it is to the Gospel that those that
these Directions about you they would be a most excellent Antidote to keep you from sin and an excellent means to preserve the zeal of Piety flaming upon the Altar of your hearts I have many things yet to say to you but I know not whether God will give me another opportunity my strength is now almost gone I beseech you let these things which I have spoken make deep impressions upon all your souls Consider what hath been said and the Lord give you understanding in all things Mr. Watson's Farewell-Sermon Aug. 19. Isai 3.10 11. Say ye surely it shall be well with the just for they shall eat the fruit of their works Woe be to the wicked it shall be evil with him for the reward of his hands shall be with him THis Text is like Israels Pillar or Cloud it hath a light side and a dark side it hath a light side unto the Godly say unto the Righteous it shall be well with him and it hath a dark side unto the wicked Woe unto the wicked it shall be ill with him both you see are rewarded Righteous and Wicked but here 's a vast difference the one hath a reward of Mercy the other a reward of Justice I begin with the first of these Say unto the Righteous it shall be will with him This Scripture was written in a very sad and calamitous time as you may read in the beginning of the Chapter The mighty man and the man of war shall cease the prudent and the ancient both Judge and the Prophet shall be taken away This was a very sad time with the Church of God in Jerusalem If the Judge be taken away where will be any equity if the Prophet be removed where will be any Priests the whole body Politick was running to ruine and almost in the Rubbish now in this sad juncture of time God would have this Text to be written and it is like a Rainbow in the Clouds God would have his People comforted in the midst of afflictions Say unto the Righteous it shall be well with them The great Proposition that lies in the words is this That howsoever things go in the world it shall be well with the Righteous man This is an Oracle from Gods own mouth and therefore we are not to dispute it its Gods own Oracle Say unto the Righteous it shall be well with him I might multiply Scriptures but I will give you one instance in Eccles 8.12 Surely I know it shall be well with them that fear God I know it It is a golden Maxime not to be disputed It shall be well with them that fear God For the illustration of this consider two things 1. What is meant by the Righteous man 2. Why Howsoever things go it shall be well with the Righteous 1. Who is meant here by the Righteous man There is a threefold Righteousness a legal Righteousness and so Adam in this sense was said to be Righteous when he did wear the Robe of Innocency Adams heart did agree with the Law of God exactly as a well made Dial goes with the Sun but this Righteousness is forfeited and lost 2. There is a Moral Righteousness and thus he is said to be Righteous who is adorned with the Moral vertues who is prudent and just and temperate who is decked with the level of Morality But 3. There is an Evangelical Righteousness and this is meant here this Evangelical Righteousness is twofold 1. There is a Righteousness of Imputation and that is when Christs Righteousness is made over to us and Beloved this Righteousness is as truly ours to justifie us as it s Christs to bestow upon us 2. There is a Righteousness of Implantation which is nothing else but the infusing of the seed and habit of Grace into the heart a planting of holiness in a man and making him a partaker of the Divine Nature this is to be Righteous in the sight of God a Righteousness of Imputation and a Righteousness of Implantation The second thing is to shew you why Howsoever things go in the world yet it shall go well with this Righteous man it must be thus for two Reasons 1. Because he who is Righteous hath his greatest evils removed his sin pardoned and then it must needs be well with him Sin is the thorn in a mans Conscience now when the thorn is pluckt out by forgiveness and remission then it is well with that man Forgiveness in Scripture is called a lifting off of sin Job 7. Lord why dost thou not lift off my sin so the Hebrew word carries it it is a Metaphor taken from a weary man that goes under a burden he is ready to sink under it now another man comes and lifts off this burthen even so doth the great God when the burthen of sin is ready to sink the Conscience God lifts off the burthen of sin from the Conscience and lays it on Christs shoulder and he carries it now he that hath his burthen thus carried it is well with him howsoever things go Forgiveness of sin and pardon it is a crowning Blessing it is a Jewel of a Believers Crown pardon of sin is a multiplying mercy it brings a great many mercies along with it whom God pardons he adopts whom God pardons he invests with Grace and Glory So that this is a multiplying mercy it is such a mercy that is enough to make a sick man well Isa 33.24 The Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people shall be forgiven their iniquity The sence of ââââon takes away the sence of pain and then it must needs be well with the Righteous for his greatest evil is removed 2. However things go it is well with the Righteous because that God is his portion Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places in God there are all good things to be found and all that is in God is engaged for the good of the Righteous his Power is to Help and his Wisdom is to Teach and his Spirit is to Sanctifie and his Mercy to Save God is the Righteous mans portion and can God give a greater gift to us than himself God is a rich portion for he is the Angels riches God is a safe and sure portion for his Name is a strong Tower he is a portion that can never be spent for he is Infiniteness He is a portion can never be lost for he is Eternity Thou art my portion for ever Psal 72.26 and surely it is well with the Righteous that hath God for his portion Is it not well with that man that is happy why if God be our portion we are happy Psal 144.15 Happy is the people whose God is the Lord. Thus I have cleared up the Doctrinal part For the Use to this Here is abundance of comfort for every Godly man for every person serving God in this Congregation God hath sent me this day with a Commission to comfort
sworn to maintain his just Power and Honour and Greatness and now behold a second Trial then I could not forswear my self the God of Heaven keep me that I never may I am apt to think I could do any thing for this loving Congregation onely I cannot sin but since Beloved there is a sentence gone out against us that we that cannot subscribe must not subsist this is the last day that is prefixed to us to Preach I shall now speak to you God assisting me if my passion will give me leave just as if I would speak if I were immediately to die Therefore hearken my Brethren dearly Beloved and longed for my Joy and Crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly Beloved Paul was now a prisoner at Rome for the Gospel of Christ 't was his second imprisonment and he was not far from being offered up a sacrifice for the Gospel he had preached This Gospel the Philippians had heard him preach and the godly Philippians having heard of his imprisonment they sent so far from Philippi to Rome to visit him and to supply his wants A gracious temper which I hope the Eternal God hath given the Saints in London and for which if for any thing God hath a blessing in store for them Paul is not so much concerned in his own bonds as in the Philippians Estate Epaphroditus tells him that there were Heresies and false doctrines got in amongst them but yet the Philippians stood fast and herein Paul rejoyces writes this Epistle bids them go on stand fast keep their ground and to be sure not to give an inch but to stand fast knowing that at long run their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. I shall without any more ado enter upon the Text in which you have two things considerable A most melting Compellation and a most serious Exhortation 1. A melting Compellation my Brethren dearly Beloved c. 2. A serious Exhortation and in it first the Matter of the Duty stand and stand it out and stand fast Secondly the Manner First So stand so as you have stood stand fast Second In the Lord stand so and stand in the Lord in the Lords strength and in the Lords cause to stand in your own strength would be the ready way to fall and to stand in your own cause for your own fancy would be the ready way to expose your selves to all manner of Temptations Therefore my brethren dearly Beloved in the Lord stand and so stand fast in the Lord my dearly Beloved In the next place by way of Observation from the words and if there be any wicked Catchers here let them know that I shall speak no more then I shall draw from and is the mind of my Text I would not give occasion to be a greater sufferer then I am like to be But for the words First For the Melting Compellation my Brethren my dearly Beloved Paul was an Apostle and an high Officer in the Church of God and he writ unto the Philippians to all the Philippians to the poorest of them and see how he bespeaks himself to them my Brethren from hence take this observation That the highest Officers in the Church of Christ though they are indeed by Office Rulers over them yet by Relation they are no more then Brethren to the meanest Saint Here we have no such Rabbies to whom we must swear because they say we must swear it Paul calls them Brethren and so writes to them Gal. 1.2 and James a Scriptural Officer one of the highest Apostles Christ ever made saith Hearken my beloved Brethren Jam. 2.5 So Peter an Apostle of Christ Wherefore the rather Brethren and John the beloved Disciple Brethren I write no New Commandment c. 1 John 2.7 Well then 1. If this be so that the highest Officer in the Church such as Christ approves of are but Brethren to the meanest Saint then certainly they are but Brethren to their fellow Officers If no more Relation to the Toe in the Body then no more to the Eyes If there be any of a light Spirit would bear Rule that love to have preheminence I would desire them to read two Scriptures the first is Luke 22.26 the second Mat. 26.27 Doth Christ say whosoever will be chief among you let him be one that will Domineer over your Estates over your Persons over your Consciencs doth not Christ say so no but Whosoever will be chief among you let him be your Minister let him be your servant Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to Minister and to give his life a Ransom for many You have this also Luke 22.25 And he said unto them the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them i. e. over their slaves over their vassals but ye shall not be so but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve Sure if Paul be but a Brother to Philip then he is no more to Timothy 2. If the highest Officers in the Church of Christ be but Brethren to the meanest Saint then 't is not for those Brethren to Lord it over their fellow Brethren Lord it over Gods Heritage remember 't is Gods Heritage I hope your Consciences will bear me witness that I have laboured as much as in me lies to be a helper of your joy not to Lord it over your faith 2 Cor. 1.24 to press or cause you to believe this or that because I believe it if this may be allowed then may I turn Papist to morrow Saith Christ to him that would have had him speak to his Brother to divide the inheritance with him Man who made me a Judge over you Luk 12.14 So say I Man who made thee a Tyrant and Lord over thy fellow Brethren 1 Pet. 5.3 Neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage c. 3. If the highest Officers in the Church of Christ be but Brethren and no more then there should be no discord between those Brethren Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity and truly I may comfortably speak that and it is one of the greatest comforts I have in the World I hope we have lived together in love blessed be God Let us not fall out saith Abraham the elder to Lot his younger Cousin for we are Brethren Beloved the discords between Pastor and People have made the best musick in the ears of the Jesuits 4. Are Pastors nay the highest Officers that Jesus Christ hath and doth own in the Church but Brethren Oh! then let those Brethren if they will appear before the Bar of their Father in Heaven with comfort take care of offending the souls of Brethren for at the hand of every Brother God will require the soul of his Brother Ezek. 33.6 His Bloud will I require at the Watchmans hand We that are called by some the Dogs of the Flock what shall we
which the Apostle uses by way of insinuation for Audience are contained in the words of the 20. verse wherein we have a very large description of the Person prayed unto The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus c. He describes him under such notes and marks as serve much for enlargment and enforcement in the matter of prayer But here a Question may arise Seeing Grace is the thing the Apostle principally desires and 't is usual with holy men both under the Old and New Testament to chuse out such Attributes as sure most with their particular occasions and are most agreeable to those requests they have why he doth not apply himself to God as the God of all grace but rather the God of Peace Therein first the Apostle seems to make use of that same liberty which belongs to holy men As there is in the General a Liberty left to Gods People from God himself Paul in this place makes use of that liberty he had as to the manner of prayer using such a description of God as seemed good to him at present But secondly if he be the God of Peace it follows he is the God of Grace If God hath glorified himself so far among the Hebrews as to reconcile them to himself by the blood of Christ then there is no question God will proceed further and having provided for those things which appertain to their Justification no question but he will for those things that are necessary to their Sanctification Therefore the Apostle argues plainly from Justification to Sanctification He that justifies his people through the Blood of Christ Sanctifie you by the spirit of Christ make you perfect to do his will working in you that which is wel-pleasing in his sight c. So desires we should be Sanctified on the consideration of our Justification having provided for Justification by the blood of Christ followes Sanctification by the spirit of Christ 1 Thes 5.23 And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly c. that God who is ally'd to you the God of peace and hath provided for you Peace I desire he would further provide Sanctification for Sanctification is nothing else but the effect of that grace which is procured for Believers through the blood of Christ There is no access to God for Sanctification of our Natures until we prevail with him for the Justification of our persons and he first shews himself to be a God of peace by way of Justification before a God of Grace and Sanctification But to proceed First for the description of the person wherein take notice of him 1. By one of his Attributes 2. By one of his special works whereby he hath manifested that Attribute 1. The Attribute of God is implyed under those words that he is called the God of peace The Gracious God that provides for reconciliation between himself and sinners that finds out ways and means to win those who are by nature Children of wrath to be the Children of God There is no peace but God is Author of whether natural peace or civil peace or political peace he is pleased to provide for them but there is a transcendent kind of peace which doth with a peculiarity belong to Gods people i.e. Spiritual peace between God and sinners and that inward peace that we enjoy if our conscience hath been troubled with terrour of sin Wrath c. Peace belongs so to God as none of the Creatures can have any Glory of it Psal 4.7 The peace is Gods peace none can effect it or devise it but God and with respect to this he is more especially called the God of peace because he hath found out a way to make reconciliation between God and his sinful perishing Creatures 2 Cor. 5.19 Ephes 2.14 c. Col. 1.13 2. There is a special Work of God attributed to him that the Apostle takes into consideration i.e. That he brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that Great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant wherein we have many words and every word its weight and we shall scarce be able to weigh every one so as to take the full sense and emphasis of them In the words there is 1. Something implyed 2. Something expressed 1. Something implyed namely That the Lord Jesus Christ was sometimes in the state of death and that being in the state of death it was not any ordinary power way or means could ransom him He was in the state and condition of the dead he was for a while under the power and dominion of Death his body for the space of three dayes lay in the Grave and in that sense he was under the dominion of death as all dead men are The Great Shepherd of the sheep could not have his own life in some sense no interest he had in God by vertue of Sonship or any of his Offices could save him from death though the Son of God and Head of the Church and Christ looked upon it so far from being below him as he thought it necessary for him and it was his glory Jâ 10.11 12. I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep but he that is an Hireling and not the Shepherd whose own the sheep are not seeth the Wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and fleeth c. Hirelings they have no spirit or principle in them that they should lay down their lives for the sheep but he so much respected his Fathers glory and good of his flock finding there was no way to bring them to salvation as he denyed himself in all other respects for their good so in this respect lays down his life for them And herein the Church of God seems to have a deadly kind of wound to be at a deadly loss Zach. 13.7 I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered But herein lies the wonderful goodness and wisdom of God he is pleased to improve as the life so the death of Christ for the good of his Church Luk. 24.16 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things it was very expedient that seeing the sheep could not otherwise be saved but by the Shepherds dying that the Shepherd should lay down his life for the sheep and seeing no other way to make reconciliation to God it was very expedient Christ should die Therefore 't is to be taken notice of that it doth not mis-become the Head therefore not the members of the body They must be content to lay down their lives for the Flock for so did the great Shepherd 2. Something expressed Where take notice First of the person spoken of Secondly of that which is given us to be taken notice of in particular 1. The Person to be taken notice of is our Lord Jesus Christ That which we have considerable is First The Title that belongs to him in his Church in this regard called The Great Shepherd of
it but our Resurrection and the thoughts of it must be our comfort And oh how doth this encourage us to come unto God though sin be heavy upon us Remember there is a God of Peace that takes to himself his Name for this very end that sinners may know for their encouragement that Reconciliation is wrought out between God and them through Jesus Christ and if they will but come and take hold of the blood of the everlasting Covenant Christ hath said they shall have all the blessings and benefits promised in the Covenant of Grace and that the blood of Christ can procure for them they shall have forgiveness of sins and salvation of Soul Therefore when we consider Christ hath dyed to have a Flock and for saving of the Flock and to make himself the God of Peace through his blood this should comâââ It remains we come to confider of the matter of the prayer this is very full make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight c. Here we are to observe two things First The matter of the Apostles desire Secondly The measure of it The matter of his desire is That the Hebrews may be made perfect in every good work to do the will of God i. e. That they may be fully and throughly regenerate sanctified throughout both in soul and body and that they may be furnished with all graces and enabled for every duty Take notice of every one of the Expressions First make you perfect 't is the duty of Christians to perfect every good work to cleanse themselves from all the impurity of flesh and spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 Secondly in every good work in matters of Piety Righteousness Charity Sobriety for within these heads most of these things may be comprehended that belong to Christians they will go a very great way to make a perfect Christian but that Christian cannot be perfect that is not sanctified in every one of these Thirdly to do his will that you may be ready cheerfully willing to do his will on all occasions But how is it possible flesh and blood should attain to this that they should be perfect in every good work Why saith the Apostle working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Working in you You see thereby all our works depend on God and 't is in vain for us to build on any Foundation but this for 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure c. Col. 2.12 through the faith of the operation of God working in you or doing in you or causing in you or making in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight Our work is to depend on Gods work our outward working depends on Gods inward working Again that which is acceptable in Gods sight but 't is only through Jesus Christ good works themselves though never so good agreeable to the Law and Gospel yet if God look not on our persons and works through Christ they will not serve the turn ye cannot be accepted working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Will God be pleased with nothing but only for Christ Jesus his sake and if it do not please Christ it will not please God 'T is truly plainly verily so That which God cannot accept of through Christ he doth not accept at all but now things are so ordered that God hath put all things into Christs hands Christ Jesus hath the ordering of the Worship and Gouernment of the Church he hath the making of all the Articles of the Christians Creed a Christian is bound to believe nothing but what Christ teaches as necessary to Salvation so that in Christ we are compleat if we believe as he teaches us to believe and if we worship God as he teaches us to worship God and have such order and government concerning his house and walk so as we desire in all things to please our Lord and Master and have him before our eyes then are we returned unto Christ the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls But if we present God with any kind of Creed Model of Worship or Government that hath not Christs Image and stamp upon it God will say as Christ concerning the money Whose Image or Superscription doth it bear If we can say Christ's the way of worship we have learned from Christ that Order and Government in the Church we have learned from Christ then the Father and Son will own it If it have Mans superscription upon it not Gods or Christ I cannot tell how we should presume it can be acceptable to God through Christ for God hath so confin'd himself he will not be pleased but through Christ and that all Matters of Religion in the New Testament should be ordered according to Christs mind as the Old according to Moses 'T is necessary we enquire after Christs mind in what we do If we can do any thing and in doing it are sure it will be acceptable to God through Christ well and good otherwise not This is the Apostles prayer That God would make them perfect in every good wark to do his will working in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ The Doxology Whether we refer it to God or Christ 't is all all one we have no body to honour and glorifie in the Church but God through Christ We cannot tell how to divide those that are so nearly united Therefore when we glorifie God we glorifie Christ And this me must observe God hath ordered all mens concomments so that we have nothing to plead for our Souls salvation but Gods grace the Rule in his Word his Gospel that he hath made known to us and therefore let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom There is a great deal of Do in Gods Church about This and That he that must determine the business is Christ and there are but two ways the determining things for the present and for the time to come hereafter by questioning the matter of fact for the present by making of our Rule When the question comes concerning the matter of fact there he receives our Rule What hath Christ said how hath Christ provided in things of this nature It 's plainly so and so but in dubious matter and customs and the like I know not how to answer them when we shall come to auswer Christ when he shall put the question Did you not know whom you was bound to fear Did I speak nothing at all in the case neither generally nor particularly Could you not by any means come to understand my mind I doubt we shall not be able to answer this But we must say we found a certain state in the Word but having laws and customs among our selves therein were at a stand Why saith
Christ was your Laws and Customs above or below my Word Must your Law be ruled by my Word or my Word by your Dâctrine Did not all Christians hold out this that the Word of Christ was above all authority in the matters of Christ Shall the Members of the Body become greater than the Head Therefore you could not be ignorant in this case your own professing me to be so great in all my Natures and Offices but when you come to practice then you will deny me Shall we be able to answer this We must consider of this that if we would please God it must be through Christ and then we must carry our sâlves as directed by Christ Jesus in his Word and nothing can take us off that principle no pretence whatsoever for Christian Religion is such a thing in the nature and substance of it as Jesus Christ is the Author of Therefore if Christ be the Author all that belongs to Christian Religion as to its substance we should account nothing of moment in Religion but only that which we can ascribe to Christ as the Author of it The care of the Church is in the hand of Christ whatsoever providences are let in on the Church to exercise or try the Church all must be born patiently but every Member must worship him God hath made Jesus Christ a Shepherd c. In what he finds fault we must not justifie what he commands we must approve what he calls to be done we must practise what is not his we must not own as his Much may be drawn from this both for instruction and consolation that Christ is the great Shepherd though he die in his Members he shall rise in his Members I may say though he die in his Ministers he shall rise in his Ministers Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor cut of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever This is a part of the Covenant that the Word and Spirit of Christ shall be continued among the Members throughout all Ages God will provide his children shall not live without a Spirit neither without his Word God hath engaged himself for both for the one as well as the other that there shall be a super-addition and perpetuating of them and herein we must depend upon the faithfulness of the great Shepherd of the sheep Mr. Venning's Farewel-Sermon Heb. 10. Verse 23. Let us hold fast the Profession of our Faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised THat Christians are greatly concerned not only to believe and to make Profession of their belief but to hold fast their faith and the Profession of it is that which I have already proved unto you the several Obligations that lie upon Christians hereunto have been in one or two Sermons handling among you the great Obligation here annexed is for he is faithful that hath promised From whence and from other places of Scripture I have deduced several Arguments and propounded them unto you the last of which was this None can promise us better than God can none can threaten us worse than God can and therefore it concerns us to hold fast If any man can do more for you or against you than God can leave God and cleave to that person but seeing that is impossible let it be as impossible for you to leave God Can any body promise you better than Heaven and that God hath promised to them that do believe Can any threaten you with worse than Hell and that God hath threatned to them that do not believe I shall now proceed to touch the remaining Arguments that are behind and give you a few helps with which I shall conclude this discourse at this time I pray God I may not say Preaching too There are several Arguments to be drawn First From the Subject concerned Vs Secondly From the Object the Profession of our Faith And Thirdly From the Act with the Qualifications Hold fast without wavering First From the subject concerned Vs Let us hold fast whatever others do if they let go Faith and God and Heaven and Souls and All yet let us hold fast Whatever the Apostle speaks of or to Believers there is a very great Emphasis in the word we or us as in the first of Tim. 6.8 saith he Having Food and Raiment let us be content Indeed he might have said let every man be content but the Emphasis lies in the us if no body else will be content yet let us for a Christian lies under more Obligations to all manner of vertue than any other man doth If Nature will not be content with little yet let Grace Let us be content So here let us hold fast our Profession It may be others will let it go I but let us hold it fast let us among whom let us upon whom let us in whom such mighty things have been done by God let us hold fast or else it will be an intolerable upbraid and condemnation to us That it will be both see but two Texts of Scripture the first is in Mat. 11.20 21. Then began he that is Christ to upbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done because they repented not Wo unto thee Chorazin wo unto thee Bethsaida for if the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in Sackcloath and Ashes but I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of Judgment than for you And thou Capernaum which art exalted unto Heaven shalt be brought down unto Hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day But I say unto thee that it shall be more tollerable for the land of Sodom at the day of judgment than for thee Pray do but mark what an upbraid their is and what ground because mightier works had been done among these than among others Now it seems to be a little excusable that they where these mighty works had not been done did not repent and therefore their punishment shall be more tollerable but it will be more inexcusable for them among whom less mighty works have been done If they do not comply with the design of God their condition will be far more intollerable They that have been lifted up to Heaven as it were that have as it were seen Christ crucified before there eyes for them to Apostatize and turn away from Châist of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy Certainly thâse very persons that have great and mighty works done among them upon them too great Convictions and strong Resolutions and yet they shall Apostatize Oh! how will God upbraid
are two things to name no more that are hugely obliging in this very act with its qualification first it is a manly act to hold fast that which is good and it is a childish act to let it go I say it is a manly act it argues something of a great soul and of a great understanding and of a manly resolution to hold fast that which is good but it is childish to let it go and therefore see how the Apostle puts these together Ephes 4.13 14. saith he speaking there That God hath given some Prophets some Apostles and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for edifying of the work of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Now he comes in the 14 verse to add That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereas they lay in wait to deceive it is not for a man to be tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine for a child to be bought out of a Pearl with a bauble is no great matter but for a man what a shame is it why we should be men not children tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine now beloved you know the Scripture calls upon us in such Language as this Be couragious and quit your selves like men be not children that will dance after every pipe tossed to and fro and always unstable Secondly It is not only a manly act to hold fast that which is good and childish to let it go but it is a Christian act a proper Christian act a right Christian act it is that which doth distinguish a true Christian from a hypocrite and a counterfeit you know it is a character of a Godly man he is a praying man there went up two men into the Temple to pray the one was a hypocrite the other a Publican now what is there then in prayer that doth distinguish these two men why faith Job will the hypocrite pray always no not he I will warrant you that is well he held out in the profession of God and of his Worship and Service the Sains are always said to pray but as for the hypocrite will be pray always no not he for here the true children of God they will hold fast but Hypocrites and Formalists they will let go Now mark here the Apostle makes this distinction Heb. 10. ver last But we are not of them who draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of their souls that is of them that believe to the end for the end of our Faith is the salvation of our Souls now pray you mark by the way what you draw back to when you draw back you draw back to perdition they that go backward go to Hell How saith he We are not of them that draw back to perdition but of them that believe to the saving of their souls that is of those that believe to the end and this is the difference he makes between them that are the People of God and them that are not that to the end holds fast the other lets go Thus I have given you an account of the Arguments that are couched in these words drawn from the Subject the Object and the Act with its qualifications I think I promised you a few helps with which I shall conclude take them in these three or four particulars First Would you hold fast I cannot but believe it to be all your desires well then if you would hold fast let me beseech this of you take heed of all and every sort of men that make Religion a Trade to get mony by which perhaps you will say are there any such in the world Oh I would there were not See that 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. where the Apostle acquaints you with such men saith he If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to godliness the wholesom Doctrine the healing Word what then in the 4. verse saith he he is proud knowing nothing but doating about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth supposing that gain is Godliness or as most read it that godliness is a gain a meer trade to get mony by from which withdraw thy self If you be not baptized they will tell you you are not a Christian and baptized you shall not be unless you pay for it they will tell you cat flesh you must not at such and such times but if you will pay for it you may they will tell you you must not sin by no means but if you will pay for it you may and have a pardon for it when your have done such a one as they can give Oh I beseech you when ever any make use of Religion to get money by take heed of them faith the Apostle from those that make godliness a Trade to get money by withdraw thy self and know that godliness with contentment is great gain Doubtless godliness is the best Trade in the world if closely followed but the worst if worldlily followed but to take up a Profession of the Christian Religion meerly for pomp and state and to get gain Oh rueful Is Christian Religion made use of for such ends as this Oh! take heed therefore as ever you would stand fast in the Faith and hold fast the profession thereof take heed of all and every sort of men that makes use of Religion to get money by Secondly Take heed of the error of the wicked lest you fall from your own stedfastness this advice you have from the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3.17 Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest you also being led away by the error of the wicked fall from your own stedfastness the error of the wicked is like to make one as wicked as they pray what was this error of the wicked It was this there were a generation of wicked men that said It was in vain to serve God for say they Where is the promise of his coming Only Beloved it was as much as to say there was no reward for godliness nor no wages for ungodliness Oh! take heed of this error of the wicked it is a wicked error and none but wicked ones hold it to wit That it is in vain to serve God therefore keep this still in your hearts that Verily in keeping his Commandments there is great reward if there were no more but the very work it is great honour to us that we may be servants to such a God but Beloved
any failings in me or any failings in my Ministerial duty that you would please to pass it by and to help me in prayer to God for the forgiveness of them These are my Requests of you and that which I have to say to you by way of Advice is much the same with what I said to this particular Congregation the last Lords day Take it in these particulars 1. I would advise you and entreat you that we may all of us lay to heart this present dispensation of God towards us and the Nation in this respect that we may be sensible of it I remember when I was young and my famous Predecessor Mr. Rogers was taken off from his Ministry in this kind though but for a few weeks these parts were wonderfully sensible of that providence and laid it to heart and were much in Humiliation and in Prayer and I think I may say they received an answer again within some weeks Now Brethren though he was worth some hundreds of us yet now it is not the laying by of one man but of multitudes fifty in one place and threescore in another and fourscore in another and this not by a single Bishop but by an Act of Parliament which makes the wound the wider and the more uncapable of cure and shall not we be sensible of this shall so many precious vessels be laid by as vessels of no pleasure and none take it to heart Shall so many burning lights be quenched together so may Wells of the Water of Life be stopt up together and this not be laid to heart I beseech you consider and be sensible 2. In the deepest and saddest sence you have of this providence of God watch over your own spirits that you lay the blame of it no where so much as upon your selves Some blame the times and charge it on their iniquities others are apt to blame us Ministers and charge it on our niceness and singularity Might my advice take place with this people I would desire that every one of us might lay the blame no where so much as on our selves for certainly we have procured these things to our selves I find our Predecessors the Martyrs when by a Law Religion was changed in the Nation and Idolatry set up they lay the blame not on the Law-makers but on themselves and their own hearts One of them saith All this is come upon us because we did not love the Gospel we were Gospellers in lip but not in life Much more doth it become us whose sufferings are far less to blame our selves more than we blame any others 3. My third Advice is this and I beseech you take it in love for it is out of love that it is given you if you should perceive at this time a difference in opinion and practice among us that are the Ministers of the Gospel in this Nation standing and sticking at things that others can digest and do and others doing things that some of their Brethren cannot come up unto Be not offended thus it hath always been from the beginning it is no new thing Thus it was in King Edwards dayes If there be any of God's servants that are Learned and Holy and Faithful that do now for the enjoyment of their Ministry yield a conformity to all that is enjoyned I doubt not but many of them are grieved that they cannot have the exercise of their Ministry without this and we who cannot come up to this are grieved that we cannot come up to it the one and the other have grief enough add not your censures to this grief that is already upon them It hath been all along a merciful providence of God that when some of his servants could not satisfie their consciences and come up to the things that have been imposed upon them without injuring their Consciences yet others have had a greater freedom given them that they could yield and if not so What would have become of the people of God Therefore in those things acknowledge there may be some providence of God for good to you in it 4. My fourth advice I shall deliver to you wholly in the words of that holy man and Martyr of God Master Bradford in his Letter to the City of London saith he Let us heartily bewail our sins and repent of our evils let us amend the evil of our lives let us every one be diligent in prayer and attend with reverence on the reading and hearing of Gods Holy word let us reprove the works of darkness let us fly from Idolatry and which is the particular I would indeed commend unto you Obey the Magistrate and them that are set over us in the Lord in all things that are not against the Word and when they command any thing contrary to the Word let us answer It is meet to obey God rather than man However saith he resist not the Magistrate nor seek to avenge your selves but commit your case to God be patient and submit to all that are in Authority over you but resist not rise not against Authority but wait on God till he pleaseth to cause the Light to rise and shine again upon you This is my fourth advice 5. Now it pleaseth God that Hearing opportunities at least some of them are taken from some of us from many of us for a time My Advice and Counsel is that the less now you hear the more you will read read the Word of God much the more and take all helps for the right understanding of what you read The Book of Annotations is a great help to enlighten you to understand the Scripture and next to the reading of the Scriptures what spare hours you have I would advise you to bestow your time in reading of the Book of Martyrs a Book that hath formerly been more prized than of late in England Especially read that part of it which contains the History of Queen Maries dayes they will inform you of the great controversies that are between us and the Papists and they will inform you what you shall answer the reading how cheerfully they went to Prison and to the Stake will imbolden you against the fears of sufferings and death and the reading of their Letters will be a great means to edifie and build you up This reading of the Scriptures and other good Books is my fifth advice to you 6. My fixth Advice to you is That seeing God hath taken away your Week-dayes opportunities of hearing the Word here and in other places you would be careful that the world may not devour Gods Portion I mean that portion of time which some of you have bestowed in hearing these Lectures It was a good speech of a gracious Woman now with God when Mr. Rogers was silenced Well said she by the grace of God the World shall never have those hours that I was wont to spend in hearing heretofore her meaning was she would spend them in her Closet in holy duties It was an
excellent resolution and worthy of our imitation and if I might after twenty six years labour here in the Ministry now at my parting obtain thus much of you that you having been pleased to be constant hearers here would lay a Law on your selves that so much time as you formerly spent in coming hither sitting here and returning home that you will spend that time at home either in praying and reading and meditating in your Closets or else in praying in and with your Families and instructing of them If I might but obtain this of you at my parting I shall believe that the Devil and his Kingdom would be losers by this our parting if you would spend this time weekly in holy Exercises reading and praying for your selves and for the Nation and for your Families which you were wont to spend in coming to these Lectures and in attending here and returning home and that is my sixth Advice to you and therefore let me intreat this of you 7. And my seventh Advice and Counsel is this that seeing it pleaseth God to take away from you so many of your publick Instructers that you would every one of you that are headâ of Families be so much the more instructing and teaching your Families Be so much the more in this by how much the less is done in publick Read the Word in your Families and catechise your Families and see that they may understand them You have many helps for this as Mr. Perkins Mr. Ball and the Assemblies Catechise 8. And the last advice I have to give you is this that you would still continue your reverence of and love to and care for the observing of the Lords Holy Sabbath It is that my Brethren wherein God hath been honoured in this Town and in these Parts I think as much as in most places in the World and I pray do so still And when you have not publick Ordinances and publick helps for the sanctifying of the Lords day at home in your own Congregations if you have the Word and Ordinances in any comfortable manner abroad Travel for it I say travel for it and when you have them not at home nor abroad be so much the more earnest and fervent and aboundant in your family and secret Duties in the sanctification of the Lords day I have some fears lest if time should come to pass that the Magistrates should connive at the prophaning of the Lords day giving way to Sports and Recreations on it and Preachers should cry down the strict observation of the Lords day and the like I am afraid we have many youth that in these parts notwithstanding all the instructions that have been given them would be ready to dance after these Pipes and run into the profaning of the Lords day Therefore you that are Governours of Families remember the charge that God hath given you more expresly concerning this than in any other thing that I know of Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates shalt thou suffer to violate the day of the Lord Therefore know your Authority and do your duty and put on the Holy Resolution of Jâshua Whatsoever others do I and my house will serve the Lord so say you Whatsoever others do I and mine will sanctifie the Lords day and keep it holy So do and the blessing of God shall be on you all the week long And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Mr. Brooks His Farewel-Sermon ALL that I shall do shall be to answer two or three Queries and then I shall leave a few Legacies with you that may speak when I am not advantaged to speak to you The first Query is this What should be the reason that men make such opposition against the Gospel against the plain powerful conscientious preaching of it This is not the principal thing that I intend and therefore I shall only touch upon the reason of it 1. Mens hatred and opposition ariseth against the Gospel because it doth discover their hidden works of darkness Joh. 3. They hate the Light lest their deeds should be removed the Gospel brings their deeds of darkness to light and this stirs up a spirit of hatred and opposition against the Gospel 2. Ground is this Because sinners under the Gospel cannot sin at so cheap a rate as otherwise they might do The Drunkard cannot be drunk at so cheap a rate nor can the opposer and persecutor oppose and persecute at so cheap a rate as they might do where the Gospel doth not shine in power and glory 3. Because the Gospel puts persons upon very hard service upon very difficult work pulling out a right eye cutting off a right hand offering up an Isaac throwing over board a Jonas parting with Bosom Lusts and darling sins Herod heard John Baptist gladly till he came to touch his Herodias and then off goes his head As they say John 6. This is a hard saying and who can abide it and from that time they walked no more with him this is a hard Gospel indeed and at this their blood riseth 4. Because of the differing and distinguishing work that the Gospel makes among the Sons of men it softens one and hardens another that sits next to him enlightens one and strikes the other blind it wins on one and enrageth another The same Sun hath different effects on the Objects on which it shines The Gospel puts a difference between the precious and the vile and this the vile cannot bear It was never good dayes say they since such and such must be Saints and none else we have as good hearts as any and this enrageth them Lastly It is from Satan Satan knows that the very tendency of the Gospel is to shake his Kingdom about his ears Satan and Antichrist know that their Kingdom must down by the power and light of the Gospel and therefore Satan and men of an Antichristian spirit do all they can to oppose and shew their hatred against the everlasting Gospel and this makes them to be in such a rage against the Gospel Quer. 2. When the Gospel goes from a People what goes I shall give but a touch here 1. When the Gospel goes Peace Plenty and Trading goes 2 Chron. 15.3 5. and 6. compared Now for a long season Israel had been without the true God and without a teaching-Priest Why They had Priests but they were Jeroboam's Priests as you may see chap. 13. verse 9. Have you not cast out the Priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron and the Levites and have made you Priests after the manner of the Nations of other Lands so that whosoever comes to consecrate himself with a young Bullock and seven Rams the same may be a Priest of them that are no gods A
little business will buy a Priesthood and so they are said to be without the true God without a teaching-Priest and without Law Mark what followes And in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Country and Nation was destroyed of Nation and City of City for God did vex them with all adversity 3. Safety and security goes when the Gospel goes so in the Text but now cited The Ark was taken away their strength and safety was gone When the Jews rejected the Gospel the Romans came and took away both their place and Nation John 11.48 If we let him thus alone the Romans will come and take away both our place and Nation About forây years after Titus and Vespasian took away their City they cried If we let this man alone the Romans will take away our Nation and this was the ready way to bring the Romans upon them 4. When the Gospel goes Civil liberty goes when the Jews slighted the Gospel and turned their backs upon it they quickly became Bondslaves to the Romans 5. When the Gospel goes the honour and glory splendour and beauty of a Nation goes It is the Gospel that is the honour and beauty of a Nation and when that goes all the glory goes As old Eli said when the Ark was taken away the glory was departed from Israel 1 Sam. 4.22 Jer. 2.11 12 13. Hath a Nation changed their gods which are yet no gods but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit that is the Worship of God into the Traditions of men What is it that lifts up one Nation above another but the Gospel Above all Nations of the Earth England hath been lifted up to Heaven 6. When the Gospel goes all soul-happiness and blessedness goes The Gospel you know is the means appointed by God to bring Souls to an acquaintance with Christ to an acceptance of Christ to an interest in Christ to an assurance that he is theirs and they are his Now when this goes all soul-happiness and blessedness goes 7. When the Gospel goes the spiritual presence of God goes for that still goes with the Gospel There is a general presence of God as the Psalmist speaks Psal 139. Where shall I go from thy Spirit Whither shall I fly from thy presence This presence of God reacheth from Heaven to Hell in that sense God is included in no place nor excluded out of any place But alas What is this general presence When the Gospel goes the special presence of God goes This leads me by the hand to the third Query Query 3. And that is this Whether God will remove the Gospel from England or no It is the fear of many but I humbly suppose No whatsoever darkness may be upon it yet that God will not remove it if you please I will offer a few things that signifie something as to my own satisfaction and it may be so to you 1. The rooting that it hath got in the hearts of sinners and Saints in the Judgment Affections and Consciences both of sinners and Saints Certainly it hath got so deep a root in the hearts of many thousands of Saints and sinners that it shall not be in the power of Hell to raze it out 2. The glorious anointings that are to be found upon many thousands of Gods servants in this Nation to preach the everlasting Gospel and who would be glad to preach upon the hardest terms keeping God and a good conscience to preach it freely as the Apostles of old did And certainly God hath not laid in the Treasure that it should be turned into a heap of confusion but that it should serve to the end for which he laid it in 3. The ineffectualness of all former attempts and designs to destroy the Gospel You know what endeavours of old there hath been to darken this Sun to put out the light of Heaven in the Marian dayes and in other dayes since them and yet it hath not been in Prisons Backs Flames Pillories nor any thing else to extinguish the glory of it And then 4. All Designs and Attempts to extinguish the everlasting Gospel have turned to the advancement flourishing and spreading of the Gospel 5. God never takes away the Gospel from a people till the body of that people have thrust the everlasting Gospel from them When indeed they have been so bold as to thrust away the everlasting Gospel God hath been severe unto them But till the body of a people have thrust away the everlasting Gospel God hath not taken it away from them 2 Chronicles the 36. Chapter from the 15th verse to the end God sent his Messengers early and late they abused slighted and scorned them till there was no remedy So in the 35. of Jeremiah from the first to the twelfth it is a famous Text for this So in the thirteenth Chapter of the Acts and the 45 46 and 47. verses Because you haue thought your selves unworthy of Salvation Lo we turn to the Gentiles till the Jews came to thrust away the everlasting Gospel the Lord continued it to them 6. The spreading of the everlasting Gospel is the special means appointed by God for the destruction of Antichrist First he is to be consumed by the spirit of his Mouth then destroyed by the brightness of his coming the spirit of Faith and prayer in them that would be willing to lay down any thing rather than part with the Gospel God will not put his blessed Church to the blush he will not make them ashamed of their confidence 7. Are there not multitudes of the Children of Believers that fall under many promises And will not God make good his engagements to them I will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your seed and the seed of the Vpright shall be blessed c. 8. The strange and wonderful affections and tenderness that God hath wrought in his children to the Gospel What meltings and mournings and what a spirit of prayer hath God put upon his people 9. There are many young tender plants and buds of Grace such in whom the spirit of God hath stirred a hungering and thirsting and longing after the great concernments of Eternity I would upon these grounds and others of the like import hope and believe that the Lord will not remove his everlasting Gospel however he may correct his people for their trifling with and slighting the glorious Gospel I have several times thought what a day of darkness was upon the World in respect of sin and superstition When Christ brought the everlasting Gospel what a day of darkness and superstition was on the whole Earth But you know what the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe When it is nearest day then it
is darkest There may be an hour of darkness that may be upon the Gospel as to its liberty purity and glory and yet there may be a Sun-shining day ready to tread on the heels of it And so much for the resolution of these Queries I shall proceed as I said and leave some Legacies with you which may by the finger of the Spirit be made advantagious to you when we are not advantaged to speak unto you Leg. 1. The first Legacy I would leave with you shall be this Secure your interest in Christ make it your great business your work your heaven to secure your interest in Christ This is not an Age an Hour for a man to be between fears and hopes between doubting and believing Take not up in a name to live when you are dead God-ward and Christ-ward Take not up in an outward form and outward priviledges They cryed The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord that had no interest in or love to the Lord of the Temple Follow God leave no means un-attempted whereby your blessed interest may be cleared up Leg. 2. Make Christ and Scripture the only foundation for your souls and faith to build on as the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundations can no man lay than that which is laid even Jesus Christ Isa 28.16 Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation a stone a tried stone a corner stone a precious stone a sure foundation Eph. 2.10 Since it is a very dangerous thing as much as your soul and eternity is worth for you to build on this authority and that on this saying and that take heed Leg. 3. In all places and company be sure to carry your soul-preservatives with you go into no place nor company except you carry your soul-preservatives with you that is holy care and wisdom You know in infectious times men will carry outward preservatives with them you have need to carry your preservatives about you else you would be in danger of being infected with the ill customs and vanities of the time wherein you live and that is a third Leg. 4. I would leave with you is this Look that all within you rise higher and higher by oppositions threatnings and sufferings that is that your faith your love your courage your zeal your resolutions and magnanimity rise higher by opposition and the spirit of Prayer thus it did Acts 4.18 19 20 21 29 30 31. compared All their sufferings did but raise up a more noble spirit in them they did but raise up their faith and courage So Acts 5.40 41 42. they looked on it as a grace to be disgraced for Christ and as an honor to be dishonored for him They say as David If this be to be vile I will be more vile If to be found in the way of my God to act for my God be vile I will be more vile Leg. 5. Take more pains and make more conscience of keeping your selves from sin than suffering from the pollutions and defilements of the day than from the sufferings of the day this Legacy I would beg that you would consider take more pains and make more conscience of keeping your selves from the evil of sin than the evil of punishment from the pollutions and corruptions of the times Acts 2.40 Save your selves from this outward generation Phil. 2.15 The children of God must be harmless and blameless without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Heb. 11. speaks full to the point in hand Rev. 3.4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy White was the habit of the Nobles which imports the honour that God will put on those that keep their garments pure in a defiling day Rev. 8.4 And I heard another voyce from Heaven saying Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues If you will be tasting and sipping at Babylons cup you must resolve to receive more or less of Babylons plagues Leg. 6. I would leave with you is this Be always doing or receiving good Our Lord and Master went up and down in this world doing good be was still doing good to body and soul he was acted by an untired power he still doing or receiving good this will make your lives comfortable your deaths happy and your accompt glorious in the great day of the Lord. Oh how useless are many men in their generation Oh that our lips might be as so many Honey-combs what we might scatter knowledge Leg. 7. I would leave with you is this Set the highest examples and patterns before your face of grace and godliness for your imitation in the business of Faith set an Abraham before your eyes in the business of Courage set a Joshua in the business of Uprightness set a Job of Meekness a Moses c. There is a disadvantage that redounds to Christians by looking more backwards than forwards Men look on whom they excel not on those they fall short of Of all examples set them before you that are most eminent for grace and holiness for communion with God and acting for God next to Christ set the pattern of the choicest Saints before you Leg. 8. Hold fast your integrity and rather let all go than let that go A man had better let liberty estate relations and life go than let his integrity go yea let all Ordinances themselves go when they cannot be held with the hand of integrity Job 27.5 6. God forbid that I should justifie you till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I will hold fast and I will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live look as the drowning man holds fast that which is cast forth for to save him as the Soldier holds fast his Sword and Buckler on which his life depends So saith Job I will hold fast my integrity my heart shall not reproach me I had rather all the world should reproach me and my heart justifie me than that my heart should reproach me and all the world justifie me That man will make but a sad exchange that shall exchange his integrity for any worldly concernment Integrity maintained in the soul will be a feast of fat things in the worst of days but let a man lose his integrity and it is not in the power of all the world to make a feast of sat things in that soul Leg. 9. That I would leave with you is this Let not a day pass over your head without calling the whole man to an exact accompt Well where have you been acting to day Hands what have you done for God to day Tongue what have you spoke for God to day This will be an advantage many ways unto you but I can onely touch on these Legacies Leg. 10. Labour mightily for a
to things that are to be believed and duties that are to be practised But why is it said The faith that was once delivered that is invariably irrevocably once for all To the Saints respects the priviledge the Saints of God had in the faith that God had left 't is the faith of the Gospel committed as a Treasure And the Church is called a Candlestick not only to hold out the light but to hold the light whence the Church is called the Pillar or the ground of truth not that they are to make Doctrines but to hold forth the Doctrines of Christ even as Tables and Pillars upon which Proclamations are hung and held forth to be made publick so is the Church of Christ 't is that in which the Truths of the Lord Jesus are kept and will be kept from one age to another But what 's the import of the word Earnestly contend It 's a word used only once in the New Testament in the Composition The word in the root is frequently used and imports a struggling with might and main as those that use to run at games It is used for Jesus Christ in his sufferings He was in an Agony the same word from whence this word is compounded The Apostle would imply such a contention such a strugling to keep the faith of the Gospel as one word in the English is not able to express it and Interpreters very much differ what 's the import The best do centre in this that we should contend for the Faith as men that would contend to keep their very lives The Proposition is this That it is the duty of the Saints of God to maintain an earnest contention to struggle for and to keep the Faith that was betrusted with them Wherein doth this contention consist 1. It is not a carnal contention the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual the Saints are not called to contend for the Faith with carnal weapons with carnal power and force not by might and power but by the Spirit of God force and power and a fleshly Arm Prison Pillors and Chains and taking away of mens comforts and Estates upon the account of the Faith of the Gospel hath been the usual way of Error 's detending it self Prayers and Tears are the Churches Weapons 2. 'T is not a contention of uncharitableness This Contention allows no murthering either of the bodies or souls of men Christians are so to contend against Error and sinful Practices as to love their persons and pitty those they contend with There are some opinions that there is no way to shew a holy way of zeal against nor to be able to destroy them but by a holy separating from the persons there were such to whom it was not lawlul to say God speed or receive them into their houses but yet this in order to the saving their souls Saving some plucking them as brands out of the fire But positively this holy contention it consists in these four things 1. In managing the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God against Errors and sinful Practices to be able to confute them mightily as Apollos did out of the Scriptures shewing the Jews that Jesus is the Christ 2. By Prayer for to pray down sinful opinions and practises That we mean when we pray Thy Kingdom come that the Gospel may run on and be glorified that these nights of darkness may be dispelled that Truth may shine to the perfect day 3. By holy practising against them by holding forth the Word oâ Life in your Conversations by striving together by a mutual provocation for the Faith of the Gospel in respect of holy walking 4. By being able to suffer for them The reasons of the Point I gave you I shall now sum up all in a word of Exhortation to press every one that bears the name of a Saint to take up this Exhortation of the Apostle Earnestly to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints The sum of all is to beg that you would be valiant for the Truth of Christ that whatever hath been delivered to you consonant to the truth agreeable to the faith delivered to us that you would struggle might and main by all Christian courage by argument practice prayer by suffering rather than let go those truths that God hath taught you by his faithful Ministers that Christ hath been preached to you those Scriptures you have in your hands those Doctrines you have learned by experience by prayer by searching the Word those ways of Worship God hath taught you those patterns of his house and out-goings and returnings there that he hath taught you be exhorted to hold them fast and not let them go Contend earnestly for the faith c. It is to be lamented that there is so sad a spirit of indifferency among Christians as we find at this day Many do so carry it as if there were nothing in the Gospel of Christ that were worthy the owning by practising or worthy owning by suffering This luke-warm indifferent temper hath done the Church of God a great deal of mischief formerly and if admitted now will do you as much mischief again It hath been one of the sins which the Lord at this day is judging and punishing his poor people for that our zeal hath been so hot against one another for meer circumstances and so cold when we are like to lose the substance that our contentions rise so high in matters hardly of any moment and our spirits work so low when they are to gain the great things for which Christ suffered which he delivered to us It is my work therefore to beg you that you would put on a holy resolution that there may be no contention among us for we are Brethren but only that contention who may most retain evidently witness the Faith that is delivered to us It is the trust God hath committed and he doth expect and look how we will manage it with courage and confidence to keep the Faith of the Gospel There are very great oppositions against you and there ought to be great resolutions of Christians to maintain themselves against such oppositions It is a very sad thing that Christians should see the Faith and the ways of the Gospel of God as it were taken from them at any time and they have not one word to speak nor any thing at all for to venture in suffering for the wayes and truths of Jesus Christ Moses had such a holy zeal that when Aaron was an example to the people to lead them to Idolatry he contended with him earnestly to his face The zeal of Gods servants is so small now that though Balaam be about the work we have not a word to speak Though the small Prophets of Antichrist be about the business yet no Christian hath courage to speak The holy Apostle Paul when Peter walked with an uneven foot and began to Judaise he tells us he did
false Jewels which go best in the night false coyn will not endure the Touch-stone nor false Jewels the day no more will false Doctrines the Scripture therefore it will be a great way to discover them 2. It will be a great way to vanquish them Eph. 6. Above all take the sword of the Spirit the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which we slay Heretical Doctrines and by which we are to slay sinful practises All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Goliahs of Errour they have been taken out of the Brook of the Scriptures therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe all Worships that are taught you to practise to the Word of God 1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe reduce them thither there 's no profession of Faith to be built but the stones must be fetched from that Mountain If you believe Divine Truths but not because the Scripture propounds them your faith is but humane If you believe any thing the Scripture doth not speak your faith is Diabolical the Word of God and your faith must run parallel All that is written you must believe and you must believe nothing but what is written This was the Rule of the Old Testament Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony to the Law that is to Moses and to the Testimony that is to the Prophets if they speak not according to these there 's no light in them When any thing was offered to Christ by way of enquiry his common answer was How readest thou Luk. 10.26 How is it written When the Apostle Paul would redress the abuse of the Lords Supper he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers to this and that use and custom but brings that How it was delivered from the Lord he reduces them to the Institution What I have received from the Lord that I have delivered unto you The Word of God is perfect in respect of Doctrine and in respect of Worship So that whatsoever is offered you to believe you must try it by perfect rules for 't is given by Divine inspiration to make the man of God perfect and wise unto Salvation it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received as nothing must be added nor taken from it Rev. 22. Therefore it 's called a Testament Now no man dares adde to another mans last Will and Testament Who shall dare to adde a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect to that which Christ hath delivered I will give you this as a certain Observation that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church or any thing of false Worship imposed upon the Church but either it was by neglecting the Scripture or by introducing someehing above the Scripture 2. Bring hither all practices of Worship as well as Doctrine to be believed try the wayes and forms of Christs house by the Word of Christ he shews us the patterns thereof the our-goings and returnings thereof he was faithful in all his house even as Moses was who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle but did appoint it There is nothing decent and comely in the Church which is so much pleaded for but what comes in by Christs institution What-ever you worship without a warrant from the Word of God or by what-ever means you worship without a warrant from the Word of God you worship you know not what John 4.20 'T is Will-worship and by the same Rule you receive one Will-worship you may receive twenty 'T is vain worship it will never reach the end of your Communion with God for he is a Spirit and seeks such Worshippers it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God therefore in point of Worship bring it to the Word of God and as to Faith and Worship say Hitherto my Faith and my Worship shalt thou go and no further This rule rightly improved will dis-intangle you from the hooks and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith Never any did invent false Doctrine but to put up them they put down the Scripture and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it Before they use other means to compel them their great work is to darken the light or the truth and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule they set up other Rules which because there are three marvellous Popular I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you There 's a three-fold rule men would set up to deceive poor souls The Name of a Church Ancient Customs The Generality of those where they live 1. The specious Name of a Church to make that a Rule to Doctrine and to Worship It was the plea of the Popish Party in the Marian dayes What! will you not believe the Church hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this and that and the other will you not believe the Church will will you go out from the true Church Thus do men that go about to deceive nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls by making the Church their Rule It was the way of the Popish Party of old and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had you must expect it again therefore let me caution you against it Can we enquire who this Church was It was only the decree of the proud Church Antichrist of old and the Antichristian Clergy who as you may read in their Stories would lord it over the faith of Gods heritage I must tell you the Name and Custom and way of the Churches of Christ is a reverend holy thing even of that that is a true Church 'T is a weighty Argument when the Apostle saith We have no such Custom nor the Churches of Christ And therefore I do fully close with him that said No sober man will go against reason No Christian against the Scripture and no peaceable minded man against the Church But then the Church must shine by a Scripture-Light If that be a Rule it must be ruled by the Scripture the Churches power is not Authoritative as to give Laws against the Laws of Christ it 's onely ministerial we do believe the Scripture for it self and not because of the Church we receive the Scripture by the Church Hence therefore when we set up the name of a Church let us see whether that Church walk in the way of Christ whether she be his Spouse or no whether she doth act according to his Institutions whether they bring his light yea or no then submit for it is not what a Church practises but what they are warranted to practise not what they hold for a truth but what they are warranted to hold
as the Word of Truth The Word was written after the Church but as it is the Word of God it 's before it This therefore will break the snare if you be set upon by the specious name of the Church look that the Church hath warrant from Scripture-Institution and then submit to Church-Institution A second Rule I observe men would set up to betray poor souls from the faith once delivered to them is Ancient Custom our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain When they would hold forth that which the Scripture is short in they will send us to such and such customs of so many hundred years standing It is to be bewailed that the date the standing of false Doctrines and false Worships is so ancient for though at first they were but Innovations yet to succeeding Generations they become old And 't is a very great truth That what is the most ancient is the most true and therefore there lies a great snare in this Therefore when Antiquity is pretended if you find not their hoary heads in the way of Righteousness there is little reason for you to reverence them or comply with them no more than there was reason so suddenly to be taken with the Gibeonites mouldy bread and clouted shoes When matters of Antiquity are pretended say as Ignatius Jesus Christus est mea Antiquitas Jesus Christ is my Antiquity so say Truth is my Antiquity for though an opinion hath been practised a thousand years yet men may have the Word of Truth in their hearts that is ancienter than all A third Rule that men would set up is The general course of the World or Place the generality of those where they live This was that the Popish Party did often mention to the witnesses of Jesus Christ What! will you be wiser than others Can't you do as others do must you be singular And this is a taking Rule for to make you conformable to those things possibly the Word of God will not warrant if you bring not this custom to the Word of God 'T is not what the most do but what we may do 't is not what the practice of all in general is but what ought to be the singular care and strict holiness of Christians in particular that the Word of God will allow Christians are not to be conformable to the present World Rom. 12.1 The Word will tell you It is no more safe to follow a multitude to do evil than it will be sweet to be in Hell with a great company The Word will let you know the secrets of the Lord are with a very few and those them that fear him as for the whole world it lies in wickedness The Word will tell you The wayes of Jesus Christ and the profession of Jesus Christ is commonly called a Sect it is every where spoken against and men hate it every where Therefore set up a Rule in your hearts in your houses in your meditations in your practise Rule 2. Be very well rooted and established in the faith that hath been delivered to you I observe one of the great reasons why Christians so easily let go the profession they have made is because they were never well built upon it nor established in it There are many Christians that through their own itching ears heaping up Teachers to themselves have never been rooted or established in the truth the Lord pitty them and keep them this day Many Christians that have attended to establishing means yet never seriously considered nor laid things to their heart but are like those the Apostle speaks of Heb. 5.12 that had need to learn the first Oracles of God How many among us profess with the highest but have little ground for their faith onely with the Jews the Traditions of the Elders the custom of the place Education and because such a party of men say so because no body denies it because Ministers commonly preached it but to have any solid and serious ground they are yet to seek 'T is not with the things of God as with other Arts as Logick Rhetorick Astronomy in these Arts the principal is presupposed to be proved no man goes about to prove there is Reason that there is Number that there are Heavenly Bodies because sense and experience shews it But 't is quite otherwise in the things of God for you are not onely to run away with the notion that there is a God that this God is one and that these are his Words and his Works but you are to know this by experience because the knowledge of these things comes by infusion by faith by a belief that God is For by faith we believe the Worlds were made by the Word of God Hebr. 11.3 It is that therefore I would press you to that you would labour for an established Spirit Do not onely hear the things of God but see them the first will but blinde you or at best leave you at great uncertainties the last will settle you What was the reason of the holy Apostles zeal when they were under the greatest threatnings of the High Priests and were forbid to speak in the name of Christ and to speak of Justification by faith and the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and forgiveness of sins by him things that are further remote from sense and reason the Apostle will tell you Acts 4.20 We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard Hence it is that poor silly women that in respect of their Imbecillity and Infirmity of Sex the terrours of the fire and faggot might have been such to have brought them to Apostacy yet they confounded the great Doctors and Rabbies when they were brought before them they were able to burn though they could not dispute they beheld things that were invisible It 's an excellent thing not to take up the Word upon notion upon opinion but to have an established heart through Grace I shall direct you in two words 1. Get the Lord by Prayer to teach you every truth what Jesus Christ teaches once is everlastingly taught no word is abiding but what the Lord Jesus teaches himself Look as it is with Satan when he comes to seduce men from the truth he will present such a fine notion without and commonly he darts in some dazling light within so that you never knew a Heretick take up a false opinion but it was with a marvellous deal of sweetness and comfort so when the Lord Christ teacheth by his Spirit he comes with that light that sweetness savour and relish of truth as will be impossible for you to let it go Hence when Christ would confute the Pharisees who had the witness of his Father in his work he saith Joh. 5.37 Ye have neither heard his âoice at any time nor seen his shape It 's an excellent thing to see the shape and hear the voice of God 2. Be well rooted upon Christ or else you will never be established in any âruth of Christ
he gave a free and full account of the Doctrine of his Father and of his glorious person before Pontius Pilate a bloudy Persecutor It was not by saying to his Disciples Fight nor by saying My Kingdom is not of this World but he gave a glorious confession before the face of Pilate of the righteousness of his Truth Doctrine Gospel and of his Person Fear to ensnare the freedom of the Truth with your own Liberty do not ensnare it to your own lusts nor to the will of any man Oh! that we could study and improve these Scriptures more it would make us fear God more and man less This is that that would make us to say as holy David did Psal 119.161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause but my heart standeth in awe of thy word for he that hath the most fear on you and upon you you will be more afraid to fall into his hands It is a childish thing for a Christian to tread down the belief of any Doctrine or practise any Worship for fear of man who hath no more power to hurt us than we give him our selves by our fear Fear not him that can kill the body c. It was the way of Gods people formerly that they came to divide between duty commanded by God and commanded by Man You may read in all the dayes of Antichrists persecution from the beginning they came to divide in matter of obedience to God and his truth and worship and obedience to Man Christians nothing but a suffering spirit will help you to this for there is no other way of Obedience in this case to Authority but to suffer under it meekly patiently as Lambs This made the three children to divide between the command of the King and the command of God What sayes Nebuchadnezzar Every knee that bowes not shall be cast into the Furnace Very well As for that matter say they O King we are not careful to answer thee for we will not bow down c. What will they not obey him Yes they will obey him by suffering as becomes Christians and is the example of Christ as if they should say Truely we are terrified with the burning Furnace but we are terrified with Hell too We are terrified by the threats of the great King but we are likewise terrified with the threats of the great God He is able to deliver us our of your torments you are not able to deliver us from his torments so in the case of Daniel Arm your selves with this Resolution of suffering and lying down patiently and meekly under those things that you cannot do so that God may be honoured by your holy resolution upon this account for truly you never do contend successfully for the faith of the Gospel till you contend by suffering for it is said They overcome by the blood of the Lamb You never make Religion your business till the world see you can let such great things go as Life Estate Liberty to keep it then wisdom is justified of her Children You never glorifie the truths of God so much by practice or writing as by suffering for them Those glorious truths against Popish justification mixing of works with faith Transubstantiation Purgatory Idol-worship against all those things that were superadded contrary to God's Institution there is such a glory upon the truths that is hard for the Popish power ever to darken them again because we see them written in the honourable and blessed scars of the witnesses and burnings of those glorious Martyrs If you would take one another by the hand when God takes away our faithful Guides and say Brethren Sisters Friends come let us hold together there 's no way in the world to hold on together like suffering for the Gospel really would get more advantage by the holy humble sufferings of one gracious Saint meerly for the Word of Righteousness than by ten thousand Arâuments used against Hereticks and false Worship Compare Phil. 1 12 13 14. with the 27 28 and 29. verses How are Pauls bonds a furtherance of the Gospel Paul no doubt was called an evil doer that sowed Heresie and was hated every where saith he Many of the Brethren of the Lord waxed confident by my bounds and were much more bold to speak the Word without fear Here 's the great encouragement and that 's in the 27. verse and he speaks it as one that was leaving of them Only let your Conversation he as becometh the Gospel of Christ that you may stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by your Adversaries for unto you it is given not only to believe but also to suffer c. It is given to you as a duty given to you as a priviledge O that you would confirm one another and in slippery times hold up one another by the hand do it in going after Gods call and in this way suffering for those truths you cannot otherwise hold and maintain Truly Christians you had need be armed with Resolution for the world is always counting the things Gods people have suffered for very little and they count it prudence not to meddle therein Those men that have easie soft terms to comply that they have a latitude to do any thing I believe some Christians are of that opinion that they would even think the Saints of God were ill-advised to venture their All upon those truths they see others dyed and suffered for It is a sad thing many Christians study to draw out the lines of obedience as far as the honesty of the times will give them leave but no farther that they would go on with the Lord Jesus to the High Priest's Hall and there deny him or that would be willing to do any thing for Christ but are willing to suffer nothing for Christ you do very little honour Jesus Christ in this and you will very little honour your selves at the last It is upon this account that Christians if they see even against plain conviction of Conscience and the Word that there are super-instituted things broken in as in conscience they cannot submit to yet they cannot comply why they may be used lawfuly though not superstitiously But saith the Apostle Paul Do I yet strive to please men Gal. 1.10 Am I then the Servant of Christ You cannot be the Servants of Christ if you strive to please men Wo be to you that please men and displease God He that would be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross c. What 's that deny Wife Children Relations Comforts he must be willing to go out of all Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in they are either those our floathful hearts are most unwilling to do or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer I intended to have taken up four Appearances and Coverings that Saints usually
that makes the work powerful efficacious and successful Alas when we have used our best endeavours all the success is from him he must make it effectual it is said our Saviour went about doing good for God was with him enclining him to the work and assisting him therein So he is with all his servants their griefs employments and success thereof are all of God not of us Object But it may be objected Is all from God and nothing from us Are we not said to concurr with him and is not then the power partly ours Answ I answer No 'T is of God and not of us we are indeed subjects of the Ministry the Recipients thereof persons employed in the work and therefore are said to be workers together with God 2 Cor. 6.1 But the power and efficacy thereof is from God alone Paul and Apollo were but Ministers 't is God that giveth the blessing It is not of us in two respects 1. It is not merited by us it is not of our deserving nor of our procuring 1. It is not of our deserving the best and most accomplished do not merit I received a mercy saith Paul to be faithful He accounted it a mercy to be employed and to be faithful therein 2. It is not of our own procuring we do not obtain it by our own power as Peter said in the recovery of the lame man It is not by any power and holiness of ours that this man âs restored c. And so it is not our gifts and industry only that will make our Ministry powerful and therefore in this work let us be looking up to God and desire him to assist us as Moses said If thou goest not O Lord up with us wherefore should we go hence So say I if the presence of God be not with us what can we do And further When we do partake of any measure of ability see where we must determine it Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be all the glory We must not sacrifice to our own Net nor give the honour to our own industry but wholly give praise to God because the excellency is of God 2. But in the second place if you look upon the words reflexively or as having their connexion to the words going before and so agree and hold together and thus you may read them Therefore is this Treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be acknowledged to be of God and not of us If it were in Angels or had we never so strong bodies yet the excellency of the power of God would not be so clearly seen as it is now being laid up in poor frail Vessels Here is the power of God here is the lustre and glory of God most manifested for so much the more apparently it will be seen to be from God by how much the weaker the instrument is that is employed by God Therefore if any thing doth act beyond its own power it must have some foreign powers for the producing such and such acts therefore when we see any great matter done by poor frail and contemptible persons of Earthen Vessels this doth plainly shew the excellency of the power to be of God and not of Man therefore look from Man to God it is God that doth these things We should over-look Earthen Vessels we should I say over-look men that are these Earthen Vessels and look to God that makes the Ministry powerful in such conveyances as these are Furthermore It may satisfie us of the Ministry in that we are Vessels viz. men of frailty c. We are apt to be discouraged and to think hardly that we are followed with so many weaknesses that we have a hard matter that when we have taken such pains in the work of the Ministry we should be thus rewarded but this should satisfie us the more weakness in us the greater honour will come to Christ This Treasure we have in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us The weaker the Vessel the more honour will redound to Christ Furthermore This may take off the servants of Christ from unwillingness unto those works and performances which God calls them unto by reason of their weakness Thus it is when God callâ to any work or employment the servants of God are apt to plead their own inability Moses sayes he is not eloquent Jeremiah sayes he is a child Jonah says he is a man of unclean lips Thus we have their delays their excuses whereby they endeavoured to discharge themselves from that work that God call'd them unto by their own weakness c. But God refuses such excuses for who makes the blind to see and the dumb to speak but God It is he that touched Isaiahs lips it is he that said to Jeremiah Do not say thou art a child for I have sent thee c. This I say then is a consideration may encourage Ministers in their work that the weaker they are the more honour and glory will redound to Christ for he said unto me saith the Apostle my grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness Not that it is an encouragement or argument for any to take upon them the great work of the Ministry without sufficient qualifications and abilities But where there is not that degree of ability as is desired where there is a true sensibleness of their weakness this may be an encouragement to them that God delighteth to shew his power in them that by so much the more they are weak so much the more honour he will gain For a conclusion it comes to this viz. That we lay no stress upon any outward things There is no stress or happiness in these outward things those that seem to be of some concernment as strength of body and other outward qualifications that are of remark yet consider they are fading and transitory this should teach us in the enjoyment of outward things a great deal of humility though we are Vessels of Gold in regard of the treasure and improvement yet in regard of our selves we are Vessels of Earth and so should be in respect of humility Let us look upon all these things as given to us of God even for this very end that we may be more serviceable to him and his people So I have done with the two general parts of the words and so with the whole Verse viz. We have this treasure in Earthen Vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Do we begin again to commend our selves saith the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 3.1 Or need we Epistles of commendations to us Ye are our Epistle in our hearts c. But this is applicable to the present sad occasion now before us This Reverend and blessed man of God Mr. James Nalton was a Person of great note and eminency among us and well known in this City and
in wait of the Jews and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you but having shewed you and taught you publickly and from house to house testifying to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ and now behold I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear unto my self so that I might finish my course with joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testifie the Gospel of the grace of God and now behold I know that ye all among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of Heaven shall see my face no more Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood for know this that after my departure grievous Wolves shall enter not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you and to give you an inheritance among all those that are sanctified I have coveted no mans silver or gold or apparel Yea your selves know these hands have ministred to my necessities and to those that were with me I have shewed you all things how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak remembring the word of our Lord Jesus how he said It is more blessed to give than to receive And when be had thus spoken he kneeled down and prayed with them all and they all wept sore and fell upon Pauls neek and kissed him sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake that tââââhould see his face no more and they accompanied him unto the Ship BEloved I have read unto you the words of a departing Minister to his Hearers The case being my own I thought I could not pitch upon a more fit place to take my Farewel withal I shall not stand to open all these words only speak a word or two at parting as Paul did to the Ephesians and I shall only hold forth something to you by way of Analysis of it and thereby you may judge of the Analogy of it In this parting speech of Pauls you have two parts 1. Pauls carriage to them 2. Their carriage to him First Pauls behaviour towards them that was very pious as you may read from verse 17. to verse 37. Secondly The peoples behaviour towards their departing Minister which you have in the two last Verses Wherein is observable 1. Their Love 2. Their Sorrow First their Love expressed by kissing him and accompanying him unto the Ship Secondly Their Sorrow expressed by their weeping they could not part with such a Minister with dry eyes but saith the Text They all wept sorely sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake that they should see his face no more They wept and they all wept and they wept sorely a sore weeping when this Minister and this People parted From whence note this That there is occasion and matter of great sorrow when people lose a godly Minister Paul was not the first Minister that ever parted ãâã People nor the Ephesians the first People that ever lamented at thâ ãâã of a faithful Minister See how the people lamented Samuel 1 Sam. 25.1 And Samuel died and all Israel were gathered together and lamented Samuel O that brave that powerful preaching Samuel is gone How did Elisha lament Elias catching hold of his garments and cried out My Father my Father the Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Christ himself when he saw the children of Israel scattered abroad upon the Mountains as Sheep without a Shepherd how did his bowels yern towards them But to name no more take St. Stephen Acts 8.2 when Stephen was departed dead and gone devout men carried Stephen to his grave and made great lamentations over him they could but lament to think that that noble couragious and heart-daunting Minister should never preach more before them When Christ was put to death how did his followers lament him Is it not a lamentable sight to behold a poor weather-beaten rotten Ship without mast or tackling in a tempest Good Lord what will become of the Ship and Mariners Is it not a sad sight to see a flock of Sheep invironed with a band of Wolves and no Shepherd to protect them Thus it is with the people when their Minister is gone Ministers themselves have wept and lamented when they have thought of departing from their own people and that for these two causes First Because they knew they would corrupt themselves Secondly Because they knew they would suffer others to corrupt them First Because they knew they would corrupt themselves Moses he knew this Deut. 13.29 he is there leaving the world and the people thereof Call unto me the Elders of your Tribes that I may speak a word in their audience and call Heaven and Earth to record against them for I am sure that upon my departure you will utterly be corrupted and turned from the way that I have commanded you for behold I being yet alive with you this day you are rebellious against God how much more then after my death I assure you it is cause of lamentation to think on this Thus it was with Joash while Jehojardah that good Minister lived with him and instructed him in the way that he should walk he kept to the worship of God but after Jehojadah died he turned Idolater and persecuted the sons of Jehojadah 2 Chron. 24.21 Secondly They knew that after their departure they would suffer others to corrupt them This was that that made Paul use these words to the Ephesians v. 29. For I know that after my departure gâââââs Wolves shall enter not sparing the flock And therefore well may you âââurn when a faithful Minister is taken from you I shall say no more only a word or two to Pauls speech wherein you have First Paul speaking to God for them Secondly Paul Speaking from God to them First He spake to them from God and then prayed to God for them I shall divide his speech to them from God into these two parts First He spake something by way of Vindication of himself Secondly He spake something by way of Exhortation to them First You may observe in Paul's Farewel-speech something by way of vindication
no be more afraid of disinheritance look on sufferings with Scripture-spectacles Labour for integrity and uprightness of heart that preserves when falling Be watchful over thy thoughts and wayes Be a resolved Christian if thou be not thou wilt turn an Apostatizing Christian You must set your faces as thorns resolution is absolutely necessary not only under but before a day of suffering Be resolved for God and be resolved against sin and that for fear lest in a day of suffering thou shouldst halt and founder and so lose the things which thou hast wrought which brings me to The Tenth Sermon 2 John 8. Look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full Reward IN these words you have a Warning-piece discharged to an Elect Lady a serious Item to an Elect Lady and her Religious Family to look well to themselves that they lost not the things they had wrought And this is grounded on a double reason 1. From the damage of such as begin well and hold not out They lose the things they have wrought That were sad that so much should be done and all should be lost at last 2. From the advantage and benefit if we do go on then we shall receive a full reward The Observation was It much cancerns all those that have begun well that are looked upon by Ministers and those that are Godly as if they were truly godly that have entertained the Truth and the profession of the Truth to look well to it how they stand to continue to go on to hold out in their holy Profession and Conversation Look to your self you Elect Lady you her Religious Family look to your selves that you lose not the things you have wrought There 's all the reason in the world it should be so the Election of Believers engages us it should be so we are chosen that we should be so If we do not look well to our selves we may chance to lose all we have wrought It too too often falls out that after a hot fit of Profession there comes a cold fit of Apostasie this cold fit of Apostasie caused by a sharp wind of Persecution or by a melting thawing Sun of Prosperity either by our natural inconstancy and mutability within we love new changes we love to be changeable or else the subtilty of Seducers from without Again there hath been are and will come trying seasons were you never so sincere Think not all the work overdone as soon as converted As soon as come out of Egypt there 's a Wilderness and Red Sea to pass through Midianitish women Giants c. to contest with Therefore no wonder he writes Look to your self Then 1. Here see Election shuts not out the use of means You are an Elect Lady yet look to your self 2. You scandalous Papists the Doctrine of Perseverance we preach is no Mother of Sloth and Security Though you shall be saved yet look to your selves you shall not perish yet keep in the Ship 3. Orthodoxness of Faith and soundness of Profession is not enough to make a good Christian Elect Lady you make profession you are sanctified but you must look to your self 4. It is not enough to have a well-ordered Family Oh Lady Look to your self as well as to your Family 6. The business of Religion is not the work of one day As long as you have life look to your self 2. For Exhortation Look to your selves take heed of Apostasie Take heed of that which occasions cold fits after a cold fit comes a dead fit as after a hot fit usuall comes a cold fit Apostasie is the Quartan Ague of the Soul if it be not death it is exâreme dangerous 3. By way of Direction Would you look to your selves Look up to God beg to be strengthened with all might in the inner man that he who hath begun a good work would be pleased to finish it To that end Lord give strength while in begging and begging hearts for continuance of that strengthening Ordinance amongst us that it may be never said as it was said of those precious Israelites the Word of the Lord was precious in those dayes there was no open Vision Which leads me to The Eleventh Sermon 1 Sam. 3.1 The word of the Lord was precious in those dayes there was no open vision THe Word of the Lord was precious in those dayes Was it not alwayes precious Yes but there is a two-fold preciousness 1. Of worth and excellency 2. Of want and scarcity The Word of the Lord hath not been so precious to the Israelites in regard of its worth and excellency therefore God made it precious to them in regard of its want and scarcity There was no open vision Hence observe 1. There hath been there may be such a day overtake a Church and People of God wherein the Word of God may be precious that is may be scarce rare and hard to come by 2. 'T is most just with God to teach them how to prize the word by the want of it that know not how to prize the word of God by the worth of it the Use was for Direction what to be done to prevent this judgment of a scarcity and famine of the Word of God 1. Learn to prize the word by the worth of it 2. Improve the word as to the fruit of it 3. Adorn the word in your lives and conversations 4. Be earnest with God in publick and private for the blessed continuance of that word Learn to prize the word by the worth of it We do prize the word c. Do you prize the word in the truth Then 1. What hath meant that horrible wicked general contempt of the word of God and Ministers of that word through the Land though blessed be God they have not taken the vilest of the People and made them Priests yet the best of Ministers have been esteemed as the worst and âilest of People 2. What means the want of the word read repeated looked into 3. What means the general disobedience to the word 4. Why are you so ready to sell the truth farr more ready than to buy it 5. What means that easie forsaking of the blessed truths of the Gospel that a Popish Jesuite cannot come and vent one of his wicked Opinions but presently let it be vomited it must be sucked up by one or other 6. What means theâ having of the faith of Christ in so much respect of persons as hath been here amongst us Judge your selves then for what is past and for the future learn to prize the word according to its worth consider what an admirable excellent thing this word of God is and that is and that may be known 1. By the Metaphors unto which it is resembled in Scripture which speak either its profit pleasure usefulness or necessity Thy word is a light to my feet what more precious than light without which the world were but one great
Dungeon c. 'T is compared to Bread Manna Food Water Precious Stones Rain c. Nay 't is more necessary As they formerly we can better be without the Sun than without Chrysostom Love for God makes us sensibly to say we can as well be without fire or water as without the word of God As it is the more excellent because compared to those things what they are naturally it is spiritually so it is spiritual Bread spiritual Water spiritual Pearl c. 2. By its precious Properties Operations There is a Scripture to me tastes like honey in my mouth Ps 19.7 8 9. Where the word is discovered by its properties and operations The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple The Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart The Commandements of the Lord are pure enlightning the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever The Judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether What are these the Metaphors to which the Word is compared Are these the Properties and Operations of the Word No wonder then Job sets such a high valuation upon them as he doth in our Twelfth Sermon Job 23.12 I have esteemed the Word of his mouth more than my necessary food IN these words you have the matter and the measure of Job's valuation 1. The matter of Job's valuation i.e. the words all the words of his mouth precepts as well as promises threatnings and directions as well as promises and priviledges 2. The measure of his valuation as his food as his necessary food nay more than his necessary food Hence this truth was raised The Ordinances of God are exceeding precious to all truly Religious Persons All the Ordinances of God and amongst them his word which is not the least part of his worship This appears 1. From their desires after the Ordinances My Soul panteth longeth after c. 2. From their hearty content and satisfaction in them 3. From their bitter Lamentation under the want of them 4. From their diligent endeavours to enjoy them Religious Persons really understand their worth and want of them They know the Ordinances of God to be the food the spiritual fodder of the Soul the walks of God where God is pleased to take his turn the Instruments of Divine Glory the Legacy of Christians their Christian Armour and Accoutrements to contest with Sin Satan the World and as Stars that lead to Bethlehem no wonder the Ordinances are so precious in the esteem of all truly Religious Then 1. Know your priviledge yet you enjoy Ordinances 2. Lament the sad condition of those poor titular Christians on the one hand that have Ordinances but enjoy them not they know not the worth of them And true Christians on the other hand from whom the Ordinances are gone and whether ever they will return they know not 3. This reproves those to whom they are not precious But how shall I know the Ordinances are precious to me Answer If thou carriest thy self towards them as towards what thou lookest on as precious tell me 1. Art thou greedy of all opportunities of enjoying 2. Heartily troubled when hindred of enjoying them 3. Hast thou a dear respect to those that help thee to the enjoyment of them 2. By way of Conviction to those mad men that tell us of being above i.e. without Ordinances What was it ever heard of any of Gods Saints in Scripture that ever they said they were above Ordinances 3. For Instruction to Christians It will be seasonable to consider what you ought to do if God should deprive you of your Ordinances He did not say it is probable but such a thing is possible Therefore make provision lay in provision before-hand Provision of Knowledge of Grace of Comfort of Light against a day of darkness And if it should come here is Counsel given to us and Consolations laid before us 1. Counsel given us if ever it should be 1. Lament bewail mourn over the Lords absence weep till you can weep no longer 2. Seek after pursue them Let them go where they will be sure thou follow the Ordinances 3. Be more frequent and serious in the use of private Ordinances 4. Frequently reflect back on thy former enjoyments Oh the House the Tabernacle of God c. And reflect 1. To excite your thankfulness to God that ever you did enjoy them 2. To suck strength from the Ordinances To chew the cud and get strength of them 3. For Humiliation for finning away and provoking God to take them away 2. For Consolation that the People of God may not utterly fail then 1. Know in such a condition That though your condition be exceeding bad yet better than many thousands they never had Ordinances 2. God is able in such a case to support without Ordinances When he calls into the Wilderness he can carry along without Circumcision 3. Remember those that have had them but not now What is become of Sion Of the Church of c. 4. Your Salvation may be carried on without Ordinances 5. There is a time coming when you shall have no need of Ordinances In the mean time if you cannot get up to the Ark of God Take heed of bowing to the Calves at Dan and Bethel If you cannot serve the God of Israel Take heed you serve not the gods of the Amorites What you will do I know not to be sure Joshua would not Chuse you saith he this day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwell But as for me and my House we will serve the Lord. Which brings me to The Thirteenth Sermon Josh 24.15 As for me and my House we will serve the Lord. IN the words two things 1. An indefatigable Exhortation Take your own choice follow your own discretion If you will go and bow down to a dumb Idol to a captive God c. 2. An admirable Dehortation We are at a pitch we are resolved and if there be any attractive in me or my Family you have it in this I and my Houshold we will serve the Lord. The Observations were 1. Pious Governours of Families are very zealous that their Families as well as themselves shall serve the Lord. Never hope of thriving in godliness till you bring your Families right for God to be of the same Religion with your selves 2. A true sincere Christian is resolved to chuse and follow God what ever else the World chuse and follow 1. Sincere Christians have much more satisfaction in the judgment and practice of God his Word Saints than in the judgment and practice of the World He knows their judgment to be depraved their choice and practice corrupt their end and conclusion worst of all Therefore no wonder he makes a better choice 2. They have the best testimony in
powerful Ministry argues and speaks a very sinful and wretched frame of heart Nothing is so excellent but some will be displeased at it and with it as Eccles 11.7 Even the Light it self we know is offensive to sore eyes And thus the burning and shining Light of a godly and faithful Ministry is offensive and terrible to some but who are they Sore diseased souls the Lord knows The Ark of God which was the monument of his presence whom did it smite with Emrods but the Philistims What then is the Ale-house more easie to thee than thy Pew is to thee in this place than a Conscience Soul-searching Sermon What art thou offended at a powerful faithful Ministry Oh fearful Plague-tokens 2. To do all that men can do to put out the Light this is worse It is the most horrid hellish Plot that can be designed or named and of this I am sure the Church of Rome cannot plead Not Guilty which like the Scribes and Pharisees take away from the people the Key of Knowledge and shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men How terribly doth our blessed Lord thunder-strike those stupid Pharisees for this Mat. 23.13 And as did the Pharisees so did the Papists For 1. Heretofore they made it a moral sin to read Gods Word 2. Afterwards they clogged the liberty they granted with such cautions and restrictions as that very few escaped of those that were within the reach of the Inquisition 3. Those cloggs contented not but now it is thought fit utterly to deny liberty and can there be a more horrible hellish Plot assigned than this to take from people their knowledge of salvation And thus the Church of Rome whether they have Church-snuffers or not to be sure they have Church-extinguishers and various means to put out the Light Oh fearful is this as in Joh. 3.19 20. That is the reason men hate the light because their deeds are evil Again If good Ministers be the light of the world then hence may we draw this Conclusion That it concerns people very nearly to believe in the light and to walk in the light and to work while the light lasteth as our blessed Savior exhorteth in Joh. 12.35 36. read that God sets up his Ministers as Lights as Candles on the Candlesticks of his Church to awaken men and to light men unto eternal life And ought not people to pray hard and to work hard while the light lasteth God removes many times the Candle and Candlestick and makes the Sun to go down at Noon-day as Amos 8.9 so darkens the Earth at clear day Good Ministers they are called the light of the world and they are called 3. Stars as in Rev. 3.1 And who are meant by the seven Stars Rev. 1. ult they are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Now the Stars are said to affect those inferiour bodies 1. By their influence And thus godly and faithful Ministers by the influence of their lips they feed many with the bread of life 2. By their regular motives of their lives they confirm many 3. By the light of both they confirm many One while their employment is to instruct poor souls and so they are like stars shining in a dark winter-night Another while they are to converse in their courses Judg. 5.20 Now to enjoy and live under the Ministry of such Stars and yet to walk in darkness and to have fellowship with the works of darkness to remain unconvineed unconverted unhumbled unmortified unfruitful this is woful this is a very lamentable state 4. They are called the Lords Messengers and Embassadours Mal. 2.7 and the Ministers of the Gospel for indeed the Ministers of the New Testament they are no where called Priests they are called Embassadors for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 Godly faithful Ministers are the Lords Messengers and Embassadours in matters concerning the soul the precious immortal never-dying soul of man not in the matters of this life but for the soul Now this is no mean imployment to treat with God for the Soul 5. They are called the Lords Husband-men Gods Church is his Husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 and Ministers are Gods Husbandmen naturally we are like a barren Wilderness Now the Lord sends his Husbandmen to those barren Wildernesses to make a fruitful Paradise Now for Gods Husbandmen to plow sow and harrow and yet no fruit no crop Isa 5.6 When Gods Vineyard brought forth no fruit I will take away all their rainy clouds saith God you shall have clouds but you shall have clouds without rain you shall have Ministers still but such as shall never do your souls any good Well you see the Titles given to them in Scripture they are called the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and Scars and the Lords Messengers and Embassadors and Husbandmen all which doth import a very great obligation lying on a people who live under such a Ministry and who live under and practice every commanded duty 2. Inference Secondly Dangerous and fearful is the state of those who have enjoyed and lived under and have not been wrought upon by such a Ministry And this will appear if we consider 1. How fearful a sentence the Lord Jesus Christ hath given to those that live under but despise and profit not by the Ministry of his faithful Servants Mat. 10.14 15. And do not think that Christ said this touching the Ministry of the Apostles onely certainly the Lord Christ would have it to be understood of the Ministry of all his faithful Servants whom he sendeth to teach his people Joh. 13.20 whomsoever he sends and so He that despiseth whom ever I send despiseth me Then is the Message of the Lords faithful Messengers received aright when people do not only hear it but receive it and bring forth fruit as our blessed Lord speaks of good hearers Mark 4.20 Those are they that hear and receive the fruits sown in good ground And thus our blessed Lord expounds himself Mat. 11.24 he telleth us there that they of Capernaum shall be in a worse case than they of Sodom and Gomorrah and why because they repented not at Christs Sermons and Miracles they were not to be seen in their lives notwithstanding Christs Ministry notwithstanding Christs preaching and his miraâââs among them they did not amend their hearts and ways O how feaâââl a sentence hath our Lord Jesus Christ denounced against such 2. If a People be not wrought upon by such a Ministry what hope can such a People have that any thing should do their souls any good For is not the Ministry of Gods faithful Servants the power of God to salvation and the ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 That is that Ministry whereby the spirit of grace and holiness is infused into the hearts of the Fathers chosen ones in Christ Jesus The Poeâs speak of excellent Musicians who by the power of their Musick made stones to leap into a wall A godly faithful
Ministry hath done more it hath taken the stone out of mans heart and hath given them new hearts it hath made all the Commandements of God easie to maâp a poor soul because it loves its Father its Redeemer and Comfoâter There is a kind of obedience in a godly faithful Minister and if this will not do nothing will as in Luke 16.31 3. Is not the cause of the non-proficiency of such a people under such a Ministry in themselves Oh men do hinder the fruit of the Word in their own souls the powerful operation and working of the Word on their own souls The Lord prophesies that sentence on the Jews Mat. 13.14 âe lays all the blame on themselves and assigns their own sins as the reason and cause of it as in Verse 13. And thus our blessed Savior expounds the Parable of the Sower shewing how many that hear the Word are never the better for it and he layeth the blame on themselves as in Luke 8.14 What then hast thou not profited under the Ministry of the Lords faithful Servant Oh lay the blame on thy self 4. Consider Hath not the Lord himself a hand in the proficiency or non-proficiency under such a Mânistry Surely the Lord hath a chief hand in making the Ministry of his Servants fruitful or not fruitful to them that enjoy it Now to enjoy and not to enjoy is it not a fearful sign that you are not of God as John 8.47 Is it not a sign that thou are not of Gods elect at least of Regeneration But you will say Did not the Jews hear Gods Word Yes they did with their bodily ears but they heard it not with saith submission and fruitfulness and therefore our blessed Savior tells them they were not of God that is they were at least in an unregenerate if not in a reprobate condition And so Joh. 10.26 Ye are those Goats saith Christ that must stand at my left hand in that great day and then Unbelievers shall reflect on themselves not on Christs Ministry by the mouths of his Servants But if any should say What then will you say that all of us are Reprobates that are not wrought on by your Ministry I say not so for that seed which hath been sowen on you may âo your souls good hereafter though it hath done them little or no gooâ as yet But secondly that I may boldly say That if any of you dye in your present state unconverted unregenerate you will carry with you to your grave as fearful marks of reprobation as we can finde any in the whole Book of God John Baptist compares the Ministry oâ the Gospel to a Fan in Mat. 3.12 When the Lord Jesus maketh use of the Ministry of his faithful Servants among the people when he maketh use of those Fans it will appear who among them are Wheat and shall be gathered into the Lords Garner and who among them are Chaff and shall be cast into fire And now whether the present state that you have lived under and are not yet wrought upon by a faithful Ministry be not very dangerous judge ye And so much may suffice for the Doctrinal part If so be then That a Ministers soundness in Doctrine and holiness of sife and conversation doth lay a great Obligation on a people conscienciously and duly to practice every commanded duty Then first of all the first Use we shall make of this Doctrine shall be by way of Tryal and Examination and that in two particulars First Whether you in this Parish in this place you here before the Lord 1. Branch of the Vse of Tryal do make conscience of the due practice of every commanded duty Secondly Whether the Ministry you have enjoyed and lived undeâ doth not lay a great Obligation on you so to do For the first of these Whether you here before the Lord do make conscience of the due practice of every commanded duty in obedience to Almighty God you may try your selves by these three excellent Ingredients First Vniversality Canst thou in the witness of thy conscience say that through grace thou dost every as well as any part of the Lords revealed Will so far as thou knowest it 2. Vniformity Dost thou do all without prejudice or partiality 3. Vbiquity Art thou the same at home as abroad in thy Closet as well as in the Congregation and dost thou mind inward and secret as well as open and outward holiness What saith Conscience to this As first Have commanded Duties a Throne in your own Souls and Conscience Secondly Have they a Throne in thy Family First Have commanded Duties a Throne in your own souls and consciences Are your hearts fully possest with the power of those divine and heavenly Truths which you have often heard which hath been again and again inculcated upon you as it was upon the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.5 their carnal principles were confuted their passions moderated their Iusts mortified their self-ends confounded are yours so Have commanded Duties a Throne in your souls and consciences Oh that all your consciences could give a satisfying answer to this Query Secondly Have commanded Duties a Throne in your Families Do you make conscience of Family-duties Are your houses Bethels that is houses of God houseâ ãâã Prayer Are your habitations of holiness and righteousness Do you make conscience of relative as well as of personal duties Oh that all your consciences could give a satisfying answer to this Query 2. Branch of the Vse of Tryal But now the second Branch of this Use of Tryal and Examination is this Whether the Ministry you have enjoyed and lived under doth not lay a very great Obligation on you to put in execution every commanded Duty as Rom. 10.6 7 8. that is the Word of Faith we preach read that place And may not we take up that with some variation and say You have heard of the disease the misery and remedy When the great God shall arraign thee at the great and fearful Day and shall say thus Thou rebellious Wretch why didst thou not forsake thy evil ways thy drunkenness thy tipling thy covetousness thy snuffling at Purity thy inveterate heart and spirit against my holy ways and Ministers why didst thou not forsake thy evil ways wilt thou be able to say Lord I lived under 1. A soul-betraying non-resident Minister one that made it his business to fleece indeed not to feed the flock Or 2. under a soul-poysoning Innovator Or 3. under a soul-pining dry Nurse Or 4. under a soulguiding Guide Or 5. under a soul-unsetling Temporizer Or 6. under a soul-destroying Discountenancer 1. Canst thou say that thou livest under a soul-betraying non-resident Minister one that made it his business to fleece and not to feed the flock one that looked after the wooll and fat of the flock the fleece but never minded the flock but non-residency hath been hitherto decryed as that as breeds a Minister idle and erroneous or licentious but wilt thou
be able to say Lord I lived under such a Minister that was a soul-betraying Minister one that was greedy of Livings and had perhaps two or three or four but so bad a man that the worst was too good for him or wilt thou be able to plead or canst thou say 2. Lord I lived under a soul-poysoning Innovator one that was for formality more than reality of true Worship one that preached such Doctrine as did not season but poyson and destroy the souls of his Hearers such are Romish Teachers Jesuites Priests and Seminaries who so affect the outward pomp as they neglect the inward power of it Wilt thou be able to say Lord I have lived under the Ministry of such an one who was more zealous for the formality of thy worship than the reality more zealous for those things that will not endure the tryal of the Lords day of appearance than for the substance of Religion Or 3. Canst thou plead that thou hast lived under a soul-pining dry Nurse one that did not nor could not feed us with the sincere milk of the Word one from whom thou never heardest a soul-solid a soul-working Sermon all thy life I appeal to your Consciences have you not heard often of your miseries and Gods mercy and Christs merits Have you not heard often of the necessity of a holy life Oh the convictions informations exhortations perswasions directions you have enjoyed and lived under Hath not thy state by nature been ripped up and the Anatomy not of the Council of Trent but of Gods Book been shewed to thee What shall I say Hath not Hell and Damnation to all rebellious and Heaven and Salvation to all true penitent Souls been preached unto you 4. Or canst thou say that thou livedst under a Soul-misguiding Guide as 1. A blind Seer a blind Watchman a blind Leader of the blind one who knew not Heavens way Canst thou say thou livedst under such a Creature that is not to be found in Christs Catalogue an Idol-preacher as in Psal 135.16 17. verses read that Or 2. If not ignorant yet one so Vicious that he pulled down more with his foul hands than he built up with his fair tongue Canst thou say thou livedst under one who by his Conversation gave his Doctrine the lye Wilt thou be able to plead thus at the great day or wilt thou be able to say 5. That thou hast lived under a Soul-unsetling Temporizer What would he not do rather than he would lose his Living which made me think Religion to be but a fantasie Wilt thou be able to say at the great day Lord it was my sad lot and portion to live under the Ministery of such a one who turned his Fiddle to the times of every one I Or Lastly wilt thou be able to say thou livedst under a Soul-destroying discountenancer of all purity and holiness one perhaps though no Dunce or Drunkard yet a prophane scoffer one that preached holiness out of his Pulpit and Parish and House and the like But first of all we can through grace appeal in this case both to the Lord and to your selves that it hath not been so with you 2. Consider how inexcusable you will be if you live and die in your ignorance impenitency and unbelief 1. Consider we can in this case appeal both to the Lord and to your selves 1. To the Lord we are able with an humble boldness to appeal to him and say Lord thou knowest we have given this people warning Ezek. 3.18 Now blessed be the Lord we can humbly appeal to his Majesty O Lord thou knowest we have warned the wicked to turn from his wicked way and the profane from his profaneness and the superstitious from his superstition and the schismatical from his schisme and the formal from his formality and the civil honest man from resting in his mortality O blessed be thy name we have endeavoured to take off this people from all their Sandy quagmiry Foundations Lord thou knowest our Prayers for them And so 2. To appeal to you And this was a very great comfort to St. Paul that he could appeal to the people themselves as Acts 20.26 27. This was a great comfort to him and blessed be the God of Grace it is a great comfort to us that we can take you to record that we are pure from your blood we have not ceased to declare all that the Father hath shewn to us we have not been afrighted by any man or mens frowns nor debauched to conceal any part thereof by any mans smile 2 Consider how inexcusable you will be if you live and dye in your ignorance impenitency and unbelief Ezek. 3.10 Observe it if you miscarry for eternity the blood of your souls will not be charged on us Nay it will be on your own heads And therefore the Apostle Paul when he preached Christ to the Jews and they opposed and blasphemed their blood was upon their own heads as Acts 18.5 6. Oh consider it if your Ministers have been faithful they are clear and free and guiltless the Lord will never charge the blood of souls on them Consider it therefore how speechless will you be at the great day if you live and die in your sins may not the Lord say of this place as he did of Capernaum Mat. 11.23 For thou hast enjoyed the Ministry of many of my Servants Dare any of you meet us in the day of Judgment under whose Ministry you have lived in an unregenerate estate and say that you have lived under a soul-betraying non-resident one or under a soul-poysoning Innovator or a soul-pining dry-Nurse or a soul-misguiding guide or a soul-unsetled Temporizer or a soul-destroying discountenancer in an unregenerate estare the Lord will then make you to know what it was to have a faithful Labourer among you as Ezek. 33.33 Then when you shall be convinced in your own Consciences you shall then say You heard all those things and we cannot say we were unwarned either in sin or danger we had preceptaton precept but we slighted all warning and exhortion and direction therefore now are lost and undone everlastingly So much may serve for the first Use The second Use is a Use of Direction which will fall into many very sutable and practical particulars whereto I do beseech you to hearken unto as the words of a dying man do commonly take the deepest impression on the surviving hearts Now this may be for all that I know my last words to you in this place therefore I beseech you to hear me An interruption a suspension of my weak worthless pains and labor among you there will be for any thing I know from this day but observe it is no resignation from me or my Reverend Brother and therefore what other dissolution of the property and relation between your Pastor and you there may be as of that mutual intercourse I shall not account oâ call it forfeiture of his place whatever
others may call it let them call it what they will Then hearken to my words as the words of a dying man yet not dead but alive and perhaps shall not die but live and declare the Word of the Lord and hold forth the Word of the Lord to you many a time in this place when-ever it pleaseth God to set open a door for me If it be so That the Ministers foundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation do lay great obligation on a people duly and conscienciously to practice every commanded duty Then from this Doctrine I would suggest and leave with you several words and hints of counsel And on that the Lord God of Heaven would effectually engage and set them home on every one of our hearts My first Counsel is this That when the Lord taketh away such Ministers whose Doctrine is sound and their lives exemplary holy you would then be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible both of the inflicting cause and also of the meritorious deserving cause thereof 1. For the inflicting cause and that is the Lord himself Isa 3.1 2 Who is it that taketh away from the people the natural staff and the civil staff the spiritual staff saith the Prophet The Lord the Lord of Hosts Whoever it be that is the Instrument it is certain it is the Lord himself that is the principal efficient cause of this judgment on a people and this will appear if we consider 1. The Lord hath threatned this judgment on a rebellious people Amos 8.11 12. I saith the Lord will bring this judgment on them A most dreadful spiritual judgment Gods Word is the spiritual food of our spiritual lives and therefore as the granting of it is a blessing indeed so the with-holding of it is a judgment This ireful dreadful judgment of the Lord we see threatens yea that is not all the Lord hath not oly threatned it but 2. Inflicted it as the Lord takes away his faithful Messengers and Embassadors 1. Sometimes by death out of the world out of the Land of the living And thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch Gen. 5.24 And 2. Sometimes by removal Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Jonas from Israel and sent him to Niniveb as Jona 1.2 And thus Paul and Barnabas went away from the Jews and turned to the Gentiles as Acts 13.4 3. Sometimes by deprivation A time there was when the good Priests and Levites were forced to flee their own places and possessions 2 Chron. 11.13 14. 4. Sometimes by suspension Thus a time there was when it was said to the Seors see not and to the Prophets prophesie not Isa 30.9 10. Thus a time there was when people would have Pastors but would not endure faithful Jeremiah and a time there was that there was a Law made Look ye speak no more in the name of Jesus Act 4.11 And a time there was when Paul and Timotheus and Silvanus were forbid to preach to the Gentiles 1 Thess 2.15.16 Thus we see the Lord himself hath inflicted this dreadful Judgment on a people and the Lord hath divers wayes and methods and means to inflict it 3. Consider The Church and people of the Lord hath been very sensible of the Lords hand in this judgment as we may see in Psal 74.1 and 9. verses compared Why what is the matter as if they have said God was wont heretofore to give us signs and tokens he would even work miracles for us the Lord would send us some Prophets to converse with and instruct us we had those that could tell us how long our troubles should last but now we see no sign the Lord leaveth us as it were to the wide world and how sensible was the Lords Church in this judgment as ver 1. of that Psalm This is the first endeavour We are to be duely sensible and deeply apprehensive of the afflicting cause of such a judgment and that is the Lord himself 2. Of the meritorious Cause and that is sin Say not we it is long of such and such but it is long of our selves we may thank our selves for this and we appeal to your selves whether this judgment may not be charged 1. From the general inflexibleness and untractableness of people under the Ministry of the Word For this very cause the Lord plagued and poured his vengeance upon the ten Tribes as in 2 Kings 17. from v. 13. to 19. The Lord testified against Isreal by all the Prophets and by all the Sters saying Turn you from your evil wayes notwithstanding they will not hear And for this very cause did the Lord afterwards plague all Judah as Jer. 20.17 18 19. And for this very reason did the Lord Jesus Christ remove Paul from Jerusalem because the people were a stiff-necked people and they would not receive Pauls testimony concerning Jesus as Acts 22 18. Paul had a great desire to stay at Jerusalem as appeared by his reasoning with the Lord as ver 9 20. But what saith the Lord Christ ver 21. Now can England can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation a general inflexibleness untractableness under a Conscience-ransacking a Conscience-searching Ministry What shall the Lord do with such a people under such a Minister Is it not just with God to let them alone that are prophane and superstitious Let there be like People like Priests Let the blind lead the blind and let the wicked rebellious Minister lead a wicked loose people that both may perish together everlastingly 2. The unfruitfulness formality lâke-warmness declining of Gods own people and for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. I have saith Christ somewhat against thee thou hast left thy first love though not absolutely for nature yet eminent for measure And can England can London plead not guilty of this sad provocation Now indeed we cannot but observe and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances as Doves to the holes of a Window but did you do so some Months agone Oh your voluntary and fearful distractions avocations diversions from the Worship and Service of God! And is it not just with the Lord to take away that abundance and choice of Spiritual helps a people had when they approved not of them yea when they undervalued and despised and abused them Oh the Lord God help us all to affect our souls and lay our selves low before his All-seeing Majesty for our provoking him to do this and endeavour to be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible of the inflicting cause and meritorious cause thereof 2. Take heed of a prophane delight in loose lewd wicked dissolute Ministers And here we will premise two or three things 1. Too many people are too ready to cavil at many Ministers without a cause The life of our blessed Lord and Saviour was it not traduced Did not some say he was a friend to Publicans and Sinners We see Christ was cavilled at and quarrelled with by some And thus
the holy Apostles their lives were traduced they went through evil report as well as good report 2 Cor. 10.2 And thus Athanasius who was traduced for an Adulterer by the Arians and so Luther and Calvin are represented and reported by the Papists as if they had been the vilest Creatures in the World The wicked man cavils at and finds spots at least doth what he can to find spots in the Sun and some who are not so wicked do look for an Evangelical perfection in Ministers and all theirs their Wives and their Children and their Servants and their Company How ready are people grosly and uncharitably to censure a Minister for any yea the least they discern in him or his and is this their Vertue nay is it not their Vice and Corruption 2. It is no breach of the Churches peace no argument of a contentious and unquiet spirit in a Minister to speak vilely of vile Ministers and enemies of the Churches peace Why who are they John Baptist tells us he calls them Vipers a generation of Vipers why were they not Preachers Mat. 3.7 And will you say that John Baptist was a man of a contentious Spirit of an unquiet Spirit And who were they whom our blessed Saviour calls a Generation of Vipers Mat. 12.34 38 39. And who were they whom our Saviour calls a Generation of Vipers and an evil and Adulterous Generation were they not Preachers and it is very observable both John Baptist and our Saviour did call those Preachers thus even in the hearing of them who were their ordinary hearers and do but observe what strange terms of disgrace St. Peter gives them 2 Peter 2.12 to certain Preachers in his time verse 14. what strange terms doth the Apostle give to those Teachers whose pernicious wayes many would follow as in verse 2. of that Chapter But did not the Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses's Chair and did they not preach some good Doctrine insomuch that Jesus Christ bids the people hear them and observe what they said though not what they did as Mat. 23.1 2 3. Therefore may some say It seemeth strange that Christ should thus disgrace the Scribes and Pharisees was not this the way to make their Ministry contemptible First It is very clear and undeniable that there was a Generation of pitiful sorry Teachers as in Mat. 9.36 Why did not the people enjoy the Teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees yes they did but the Scribes and Pharisees were Idol-Shepherds they knew how to feed their Flock and therefore Christ lookt on the people as Sheep scattered abroad for all the Scribes and Pharisees They did not understand that there was heart-murder or heart-adultery until our blessed Saviour instructed them The Scribes and Pharisees they did but strike at the bough only but our Saviour Preached with authority and not as the Scribes did And withal I answer 2. That beyond all peradventure our blessed Saviour saw that although the Scribes and Pharisees did teach some truths yet by their Life and Doctrine they did more mischief than good and therefore the more credit they had among the people the more mischief they were like to do And therefore from hence our blessed Lord and Saviour calls them a Generation of Vipers But I hope you will not count it an argument of the breach of the Churches peace to speak vilely of a vile Ministry It was no more than John Baptist did and than our Saviour did Thirdly No mans sin deserves so sharply to be reproved as the sins of Ministers because his sins of all others are the chief sins committed in a Land at the Sanctuary of prophaneness too too often begins Therefore when Gods people met in their publick Fasts they made solemn Confession of those sins of the first Magnitude by which they had most provoked the Lord they do make Confession chiefly of the sins of their Magistrates and Ministers Neh. 9.33 34. The Jews there bewailed the sins of their Magistrates and Ministers as the particular cause of their plagues Oh the sins of Teachers are the Teachers of sin and therefore no mans sin deserves to be so sharply reproved as the scandalous sins of Min isters Now if you love your souls take heed and beware of a prophane delight in lewd loose dissolute Ministers We sind the Lord complaining of the wickedness of the Prophets and of the Priests and People as Jer. 5 ult the people did take a prophane delight in false Prophets and in polluted Priests and so likewise in the Prophet Micah chap. 2. v. 11. the people although they did oppose the Prophet Micah and other true Prophets yet they did approve of and delight in false Prophets such as were of their own leaven their own way and mould such as would flatter them and promise them wine and strong drink and are there not many such people in the world that had rather hear such a Minister than such as preach close-walking with God and of getting to Heaven under pain of damnation Will you cry up and will you prophanely delight in a Ministry that shall preach peace peace to all prophane rebellious people in short such a one that will poison you in Doctrine or in his example Fourthly Take heed and beware of a sinful Idolizing of godly faithful Ministers the Apostle decries this with much zeal ardency and servency of Spirit what is Paul's planting and what is Apollo's watering 1 Cor. 3.5 6. As excellent gifts parts and graces as these men had yet they look higher so it is your duty to look above mens parts and above mens gifts and graces Paul and Apollo cannot give increase Paul indeed may plant but there is no rooting indeed in these plants but by christ And read v. 7. It is God and he only that can give encrease As Elisha's Servant could carry his Masters staff and lay it on the dead child but the child could not be raised to life until Elisha came himself thus godly faithful Ministers can but lay Gods Message before you but unless the Lord set it to the heart never a dead Soul can be raised from the death of sin to the life of grace and holiness Remember godly and faithful Ministers although they have the Lords Sword yet they have not the Lord Christs arm and alas what can the Lord Christs Sword do without his Arm. Fifthly Take heed of being leavened with prejudice against the Ministry of the Word because of the misdemeanours or miscarriage of the Minister Surely the efficacy of the Word and Sacrament doth not depend on the quality of the Minister It is the Word of the Lord that converts not the person of the Dispenser or Speaker A seed that is fown in a good soyl may yea will grow and thrive although perhaps the Sower had a very dirty hand 2 Cor. 3.2 3. The Apostle tells the Corinthians that they are saith he The Epittle of Christs Ministry by us the hand is Christs Ministers are but
while Stephen sees nothing but blood here below he saw Heaven above And Christ rells his Disciples In the world they shall have tribulation but in him they shall have peace 6. And lastly Though this be one great work of the Spirit of God to comfort the hearts of Christs Disciples yet there are some special seasons wherein the Spirit of God gives out this comfort There are seasons of sadness there is a season of heaviness and there is need of it There is a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance I shewed you some of the Seasons 1. One special season of the Spirits comforting the renewing Soul is presently upon the Souls first salvation After the spirit is become a Spirit of Adoption presently it becomes a Spirit of Consolation after the Spirit hath come into the soul in the Law it then nextly appears a Spirit in the Gospel 2. Another season when the Spirit gives out this comfort is just before the Lord layes upon his people any great affliction When was it that Christ was transfigured and his face did shine as the Sun it was immediately before his bloody passion Christ was first taken into the Mount before he was lifted up upon the Cross When was the voice heard This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased but just before he was led into the Wilderness to be tempted When was Paul lifted up into Heaven it was immediately before Satan was sent to buffet him Thus God gives his people something beforehand to support their Spirits that they may not faint the Disciples were full of comfort Acts 5 41. And when was this immediately just before they were carryed before the Council and whipt up and down like Vagabonds and Rogues for preaching the Gospel 3. Another Season when the Spirit gives out this Comfort is in the time of suffering God comes in the nick of time especially if a man suffer for righteousness sake if this suffering be upon the account of Christ he seldom sails to send the Comforter for the relieving of his Spirit 1 Pet. 4.13 But rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy Bodily confinement and in ward straits are the time of the souls greatest inlargement John had his vision in the Isle of Patmos When a Child of God is brought to a piece of bread then is the season for God to feed him with heavenly Manna Jacob had glorious Visions while he was flying from the wrath of his Brother when he had nothing but a heap of Stones for his Pillow It was in the Wilderness that God speaks to his Church thus I told you of Mr. Glover a Prisoner who found no comfort in the time of his imprisonment but when he was going to the stake he cryed out He is come be is come meaning the Spirit the Comforter 4. Another season of Comfort is after some special exercise of grace godly sorrow-for sin free actions in the pardon of sin and new Engageme ââs and Resolutions and Promises of more close walking with God after declining from him 5. Another season of Comfort is After some great Tryals and Afflictions Light is then most pleasant when we newly are come out of a dark place after Thunder comes Lightning after a Storm comes a Calm God led his people first into the Wilderness and then into the Land of Canaan It is often so in Gods Dispensations towards his people their greatest Afflictions go before their greatest Deliverances And therefore let not the Saints of God despair when they are at the lowest when they walk in darkness and see no light yet let them trust in the Lord. 6. Another Season of comfort was when men were conscienciously diligent in their particular Callings then they walk with God To this I gave you an instance in the Shepherds they were faithful and diligent in their Callings they were watching over their flocks by night and then the Angel comes and tells them To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.11 A company of poor Shepherds keeping of their Sheep God appears unto them and manifesteth his comforting Presence when the Scribes and Phaâisees notwithstanding all their long prayers and their strict Rites and Ceremonies hear not a word of him 7. Another Season of comfort is when we are either preparing for or in the spiritual act of some duty When grace is exercised to prepare the heart to pray and in attendance upon such an Ordinance then oftentimes the Spirit of God is with them to let poor souls in their endeavors finde acceptance with God Hannah had been praying to God But what melody did she finde in her heart When Mary sate âat Christs feet how doth Christ fill her heart with comfort sealing up her salvation to her I now come to close with some Application Vse of Information Use If it be the work of the Spirit of God to comfort the hearts of Christs Disciples then by way of Information I gather this That a poor soul is very hardly setled and satisfied in point of Comfort Sure it is a hard matter to comfort a poor soul when one of the Persons of the blessed Trinity must be employed on purpose to do it This is an office belonging to the Holy Ghost when he is to be the Paraclec the comfort of the Holy Ghost This sure is a hard matter to comfort the wounded spirit when the soul is full of the spirit of bondage Oh! the hesitates the jealousies the doubts and fears the objections that a poor soul makes against his spiritual peace and comfort now it begins to take comfort then it doubts again now he believeth and takes courage but anon he is afraid there is a great deal ado to fasten comfort upon a poor soul 2 Cor. 1.22 23. What a heap of Words are there together and it is all little enough to comfort a poor soul Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God and hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts It is not without much tugging and drawing that the soul is first brought to believe and then when it doth believe it is a hard thing to perswade it that it doth believe There is a strange kind of squemishness upon the heart he thinks that there is no comfort to be taken that doth belong to him Luther says It is a harder thing to comfort a troubled Conscience than to raise the dead Surely it must be as hard when nothing but the same power must do it The soul is hardly convinced but all the glad tidings of the Gospel are golden streams and all the Promises are but pleasant Fancies without any Reality but that these things should belong to him this he cannot believe for want of faith
Trust Now I am leaving of you 4. Here is the commendation of the Trustee from the power and ability of him to manage this Trust and this is expressed in two particulars 1. He is able to build up And then 2. To give you an inheritance As if he should have said I will leave you with such who are able to build you up I might raise a multitude of Observations from the words As first of all Doct. 1. That it should he the care of a faithful Minister when be is by the providence of God taken from a people to recommend them to God and to the Word of his Grace 2. As it is the duty of a faithful Minister to do it so it is his comfort that be may do it that he may leave his people in the hand of God who is able to build them up in grace 3. It may be the comfort of any Church of Christ that when they are deprived of faithful Ministers that yet they are lest in the hands of God 4. Though God can by his infinite power perfect grace and bring men to Heaven without the use of means yet we have no ground nor warrant to expect one or other but through the Word of Gods grace 5. And lastly Though there be a glorious inheritance purchased and prepared by Jesus Christ yet it is to be expected by none but those that are built up and sanctified Or thus None âust look for an inheritance hereafter but such as are born of the Spirit and built up in grace I might speak to many more but I shall gather all that I have said into this one general Proposition which is this Doct. That the best Farewel that a Gospel-Minister can give to his people that he loves and labors amongst when he by the providence of God is taken from them iâ to commend them to God and to the word of his grace Thus doth our holy Apostle When he was taken from his people and left to preach to them no more he recommends them to the hands of God And thus doth a greater than St. Paul even Jesus Christ himself The great Shepherd of the Sheep as St. Peter calls him when he was leaving the world and could no longer preach to them he commends them to God John 17.11 And now says Christ to his Father I am no more in the world but these are in the world and I come to thee Holy Father keep through thy own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are And in the fourteenth I have given them thy word He commends them to God and to the word of his grace In the prosecution of this Truth I shall explain these particulars 1. Shew you what it is in a Minister to recommend his people to God 2. What it is that he should recommend them to God for 3. Why he should be so careful to recommend them to God 4. How he should recommend them to God Lastly Apââly it First It is to leave them in the hand of God to give them up unto Gods care and keeping as I shewed you in the opening of the words To recommend them to God is to do that for them effectually which he would fain do Ministerially if he had been suffered to continue among them As when a dying Father or Husband commends his wife and children to some surviving intimate friend it is a leaving a committing them to that friend to deal and to do for them which he would have done if he had lived Now let us consider what it is that a faithful Ministers design and endeavours are to do for that Congregation that is committed to his charge These four things especially every faithful Minister endeavours to do while he is amongst his people 1. Their Conversion and Sanctification 2. Their Building and Edification 3. Their Protection and Preservation 4. Their Comfort and Consolation First Their Conversion and turning to God This is that a faithful Ministers heart is set upon that he may convert poor souls that are in a sinful state that he may turn poor souls to God that by often preaching and praying and counsel he may bring them into a state of salvation Rom. 10.1 The Apostle there speaks of the Romans that they were the people of God in profession ah but this was not enough fain he would that they should be the people of God-in truth that is the hearty desire of every faithful Minister not only to bring his people to the outward profession of godliness but to the work and power of it in their hearts not only to have the name of Christian but Christianity it self and this is the end of all his studying to get them to God by little and little till Christ be formed in them Gal. 4.11 My little Children says the Apostle c. S. Paul travels in birth with the Galathians from a state of nature to a state of grace he would get grace wrought in their hearts he would get them ingraffed into Christ and this is the end of his commending them to God which he would fain have done if he might have been suffered to preach to them This is the language of a Ministers heart Lord Lord thou knowest that it was the desire of my soul that every one of this people should be made holy by thy Word I would fain have begotten them by the Ministry to Jesus Christ but now by the providence of God I am taken off before my work is done and thou seest yet there is a great many in the gaul of bitterness and the bond of iniquity in a state of death and I am now likely not to do any thing more Now it is my care that those that belong to thy Election of grace may be gathered home to thee 2. To build them up in knowledge and faith He endeavours that those that are already sanctified may be further built up in their most holy faith Where there are the most eminent Saints yet there is a great deal lacking The Apostle gives great commendation of the Thessalonans 1 Thess 3.10 They were a famous Church and there were a great many eminent Christians yet there was something lacking in their faith and in their knowledge Christ speaks to one of the most eminent Apostles Oh thou of little faith Though the Foundation-stone be laid yet there is a superstructure behind and this is the work of Christ the building them up Eph. 4.12 This is the end of every faithful Minister to make his people fit for Heaven he would be feeding of them that they may grow to the full measure of the stature of Christ And therefore every godly Minister desires that he may be the Finisher as well as the Author under God of their Faith that they may be built up to Christs heavenly Kingdom 3. A Minister's aims are that his people may be kept from danger The people of God after they are effectually called they are
Law hath laid upon my Ministry in regard of Conscience who cannot Conform for which our publick Ministry is suspended I shall chearfully and willingly return to you in this place But now though your dying Minister in respect of the Exercise to his publick Ministry is leaving of you yet I commit you into a safe hand I commend you to God and to his Grace Amen Mr. Pledger's Farewel Sermon Revel 2.9 10. I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten daies be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life IN the former Verse you have the Superscription and Description of this Epistle the Superscription by the mouth and hand of John to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna that is the Ministry of the Gospel or the Colledge of Presbyters As the whole Tribe of Levi in Malachy is called the Angel of the Lord so here the whole Tribe and Office of the Ministry is called the Angel Angel is not a term that signifies a single Person but a name of Office Then for the Description These things saith the first and the Last which was dead and is alive He is described by his Eternity by his suffering and by his reviving I shall not speak of this nor of the Verses following the Text. I shall speak of the Inscription or Narration of the Epistle in these two Verses wherein you have 1. A Commendation 2. An Admonition a piece of Heavenly Counsel 1. You have a Commendation I know thy works c. I like well the pains that thou takest in my service for my Servants sake I know how thou hast suffered I take all well I consider all the reproaches that are vomited our against thee 2. Then you have the Counsel 2. Fear none of these things 2. The Arguments to set it on 1. 'T is the Devil that shall trouble you he is the prime Agent he that never took a good Cause Thou hast certainly God for thee if thou hast the Devil against thee 2. This Devil shall be checked and restrained 1. As to the number of them he shall deal withal The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison He aims at all but he shall come short of many 2. In respect of the kind of the Affliction Cast some into Prison He aims at our Souls to disturb the peace of them to cast us into Hell but it shall be but into Prison 3. For the design of this Affliction Not for destruction but to try us It shall not be as Wood in the fire to be consumed but as Gold in the sire to be tried 4. For the term of duration it shall not be for ever But for ten dayes for a time a set time for a short time perhaps thou shalt lose thy life but Be thou faithful unto the death and I will give thee a crown of life Before I finish I shall endeavour to shew the whole light of this Text in these six or seven Propositions Pro. 1. First Jesus Christ takes notice of all the works and trouble and losses that we endure for him There cannot be a godly word spoken but the Lord hears it takes notice of it not a day of humiliation not a tear not a prayer not a sigh not a cup of cold water but the Lord sets it down Item At such a time thou didst lose such a thing hazard such a concernment Now this knowledge lies in two things 1. It implies an Approbation 2. A Recompence I know what thou doest what thou sufferest so as to approve it and so as to recompence it Now then if God takes notice of what we do and suffer for his Name then either we must say He hath not good enough or not time enough to bestow that good upon us or not faithfulness enough to perform his promise before we can be moved from his service Pro. 2. Secondly I observe Believers in their poor condition when they have lost all they are rich I know thy poverty but thou art rich The only wise man is the only rich man so saith the Philosopher but the Believer is the rich man so saith the wisdom of God in the Text. And the riches of a Believer lies in five things 1. In his interest he hath a God for his portion Faith doth unite and implant into the Lord Jesus Christ so that we are become spiritually rich to the utmost degree of happiness saith David The lines are fallen to me in a pleasant place I have a goodly heritage All that rich love of God which is stronger than death it self a rich Covenant of Grace shines in the Promises as so many Pearls he will not with hold any thing that is good nor suffer any thing that is evil to fall upon us that shall not turn to good How rich are they that are rich in God! 2. Believers must needs be rich in their relations Our Communion is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ They are married to Christ and have an Interest in him they must certainly contract very honourable Allies the Brother of Jesus Christ a Member of Christ she that marries a Prince or King is a Queen What title of Honour shall we give to her that is espoused to Jesus Christ 3. The Believer is honourable in his possessions To name but two possession of Grace possession of Peace Grace and Peace there is your riches so the Lord salutes you in his Word the least dram of Grace is more than all the World And this is the character of one that hungers and thirsts after Christ And then for comforts which are grounded upon grace and the work of grace for the spring of grace is a spring of joy In the world you shall have trouble but in me peace And in the midst of my troubled thoughts saith David thy comforts delight my Soul 4. A Believer is rich in regard of his expectation that Reversion that blessed hope that is reserved for him A Believer his character is to long and look for the appearance of Christ The Believer is rich in the everlasting Kingdom of glory 5. A Believer is rich in the things of this life he can live above these things he can be content without them contentations is your riches you shall want nothing that is good Why then have we not enough And if we have enough Why do we nor see our riches Because God doth not shake down the Acorns from the Tree of common providence which he does to the herds of the World but feeds us with Childrens bread shall we therefore repine Let us see our riches even in the things of this life He that believes on Christ is
The promise of the Spirit which shall supply his absence such a Spirit as shall reach them comfort them and be in stead of All to them give them such Joy Courage and Peace as the World can neither give nor take away ver 27. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you c. Thirdly In the 23. ver in the Text We will come and make our abode with him while you keep my words which is the great promise here If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him The words of the Text are an Answer to the Question of Judas not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world Jesus Christ gives the Answer If a man love me he will keep my words c. To him the Promise is made That the Father will love him They love him that keep his words and to these he hath said He will manifest his love to them and make his abode with them In which word there are three parts considerable First A Supposition If a man love me c. Secondly A position which is the effect of that love He will keep my words Thirdly A promise which is two-fold First Of the Father's love My Father will love him Secondly The Co-habitation of the Father and Son with such a Person We will come unto him and make âur abode with him The Observations that I intend to insist upon are two First That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ Secondly That God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his words First Of the first of these That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ If any love me he will keep my words he will do my will walk in my ways treasure up my truths and counsels This Doctrine requires three things to be spoken to in their order 1. That Jesus Christ must be truly loved 2. What it is to keep his Words 3. Why it is both the duty and property of them that love him to keep his words First That Jesus Christ must be truly loved there is such an indispensible necessity for this that the Apostle says 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha let him be accursed But because every one pretends highly to love Jesus Christ and but few that love him indeed I shall shew two things more briefly 1. Who is he that truly loves him 2. Why we should all truly love him First Who is he that truly loves Christ First He truly loves Jesus Christ who upon the discovery and tender of Jesus Christ in the Gospel as King Priest and Prophet can willingly deny all for him as the Merchant Mat. 13.45 46. sold all that he had for the goodly Pearl And so Paul Phil. 3.8 accounts all dung his parts his righteousness by the Law his greatest excellencies he loves Christ in deed and not in shew only who can leave the world his dearest lusts his best righteousness for Christ This is a true conjugal love Psal 45.10 Hearken O daughter and confider and encline thine ear forget also thine own people c. When Christ sees that we have such love to him that we will part with all for him then he sees a beauty in us that delights him Secondly He truly loves Jesus Christ who having received him will rather lose all than part with him again who accounts Jesus Christ better than his best things as he sayes in Mat. 10.37 He that loves Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me c. therefore sayes the Spouse Cant. 8.6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a seal upon thine arm let me be so united to thee that I may never be sever'd from thee It is a very hard lesson and an irksome duty for the best of men to part with friends liberty peace life all these or either of these sweet mercies but to part with Christ nothing can perswade or enforce the soul that truly loves him that 's a thought more cruel than the Grave witness the holy Martyrs a whole cloud of witnesses that notable and eminent Galeacius Marquess of Vico c. Thirdly He that truly loves Jesus Christ takes abundance of delight in communion with him No pleasure like the kisses of his mouth No sweetness like that of his bosome all his ways are peace and his paths pleasantness Christ makes every condition comfortable there is no comfort of life but in that little enjoyment of Christ that the soul hath in his life 't is communion with Christ converse with him that is all my comfort and pleasure in the world O how doth the Spouse take care that he be not disturbed in Cant. 2. â I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and the Hinds of the field that ye stir not up nor awake my Love till he please The words are an allusion to one that would not have her Friend disturbed and speaks to her companions and charges them by all that is dear and pleasant to them not to break the rest of her best Beloved and shews the wonderful delight the soul takes in communion with Jesus Christ and the special care that it alwayes hath that no tentation break in nor corruption break out to interrupt that sweet communion or occasion Christs departure who will not for any profit commit any sin or cause Jesus to depart from him Fourthly He that truly loves Jesus Christ having lost the sight of him is never satisfied till he come to the re-enjoyment of him is alwayes at a loss and is never quiet till he enter into acquaintance and communion with him as in that of Joseph and Mary they having lost their Son went seeking till they found him So Cant. 3.1 2 3 c. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth I sought him but I found him not I will rise now and go about the City in the streets and in the broad ways c. I said to the Watchmen Saw ye him whom my soul loveth c. By all which is expressed the sedulous care and industry of a living soul seeking after Christ First By night in her bed Jesus Christ hath her best thoughts in her closet and private duties of Prayer serious Meditations spiritual Ejaculations and secret self-Examinations in all these the soul enquires As one that loves the world by night his meditation is of the world so the man of pleasures and honours is pursuing his lusts in the night season the wicked man is contriving mischief upon his bed so the soul that loves Christ his are still at work after Christ Secondly I will rise now and go about the
City c. i.e. I will betake my self to all publick Ordinances and shew more zeal and life in my duties and in these I will make enquiry Thirdly I asked the Watchmen the Ministers of the Gospel which are or should be as faithful watchmen that watch for our Souls and be able to speak a word in season c. So nothing will satisfie the Soul that truly loves Christ without him and no means shall be negected till she enjoy him Secondly Why must he be thus beloved First Because he is lovely altogether lovely First Lovely in his Life observing all the will of God there was a wonderful beauty upon him if we behold and can understand that hidden glory of an untainted Holiness and exact conformity to the will of God Secondly Lovely in his Death never more lovely and amiable to the believing sinner than when he was most despicable in the eyes of rebellious sinners O then he appears most beautiful and desirable when he hangs on the Cross there making our Peace procuring our pardon obtaning life and glory for us by that shameful death Thirdly Lovely in all his Graces each Grace a matchless Jewel Rocks of Diamonds Mountains of Pearl not worthy to be mentioned with the least of his excellencies If he put a little of this Grace upon any Soul though he be never so vile cloathed with corruption as in Ezek. 16. from the 9 to the 16 Verse Yet he may be made beautiful by his comeliness Fourthly Lovely in all his Ordinances in which the more immediate sight the Soul hath of him the more he is taken with his Beauty No wonder he is called in Hag. 2.7 The desire of all Nations Secondly Because of his deserving love We love him because he first loved us Consider in his love these four particulars First He laid down his life for us such a love will deserve love and life too John 15.13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends Secondly He lives now in Heaven for us Heb. 7.25 He ever liveth to make intercession for us He is there minding our necessities agitating our affairs by his sitting there we have Liberty of coming thither his sitting there in glory we have our standing here in grace Thirdly he accounts that as done to himself that is done to them that are his Zach. 2.8 He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of his eye and Mat. 10.40 41 42. c. He that receiveth you receiveth me and so he said to Saul Acts 9.4 Why persecutest thou me when he was with commission from the High Priest dragging the poor Professors of Jesus Christ to the prison Fourthly He longs to have us with him John 17.24 Father I will that where I am there they may be also to behold my glory He is not satisfied with out their Company and is always imparting his most secret counsels to them John 15.16 Henceforth I call you not Servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you Thirdly Because otherwise we shall not regard his words which is intimated in the Text If we love him we shall keep his words but if we love him not we will not keep his words It is want of Love to Christ that is the cause of the abounding of every sin for if we did love him we should keep his commands which is the second particular Secondly What it is to keep the words of Christ First There is a Natural and Mental keeping of the words of Christ and so we must keep them that is Remember his Words his Promises Counsels and Appointments The Memory is man's storehouse or cabinet that should be kept Sacred for the truths of Christ so the Disciples kept the word of Christ when they remembred his sayings and David Ps 119.93 I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickened me i.e. I will keep thy precepts for what we forget we lose and what we remember we keep And thus as Friends take pleasure to look sometimes on the love-tokens of their absent friends So may we have singular comfort and refreshment to see the heart of Christ in the counsels promises and appointments left with us Secondly There is an Evangilical and Practical keeping of the words of Christ When we do believe promises and obey commands Promises not believed and precepts not obeyed are as water spilt on the earth besides the Vessel that should receive it Heb. 4.2 but when they are believed they be as liquor put into the Vessel for its proper use Hence saith Christ Luke 11.28 Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it Then we keep the words of Christ when we believe his promises observe his precepts in all our conversation and walk by his appointments and institutions in all our duties Thirdly Why it is their Property and Duty that love Jesus Christ to keep his words First Because true love is comprehensive He that loves Christ truly loves also all that is his He that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten The nearer any thing is to Christ the better it is beloved and then we love the Word when we keep it as a special pledge of his love To have his Word and a heart to keep it is a double blessing and indeed such a gift is the Word of Christ as wordly to be loved for it self and kept for the Givers sake Secondly Because true love is Operative It is the principle of Gospel-obedience 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth us Where there is the disposition of a Son there will be obedience to the Fathers commands so where there is spiritual love to Christ it will set the Soul on work and quicken it to keep the words of Christ As is said of Faith Shew me thy Faith by thy Works So shew thy love to Christ by thy works as Faith without works is dead so is love without obedience Thirdly Because keeping the words of Christ gives the clearest and surest testimony of the truth of our love to Jesus Christ Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis Obedience is the most lively testification of love as Christ said to Peter Lovest thou me c. shew it in this in doing thy duty Feed my sheep So Christ tells us in the Text Where the fire of love is in the breast there the flames of duty and service is in the hand Joh. 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you In the 1 Joh. 5.3 In this is the love of God that we keep his Commandements Vse 1. For Exhortation First To a mental keeping of the words of Christ according to that word Heb. 2.1 We ought therefore to give the more diligent heed to the things which we have received lest at any time we let them slip And that we
may not forget but keep in our memories the words of Christ First consider That all the promises and counsels which Jesus Christ hath made known to us are not only for the present but for the future use Isa 22.23 Hearken and hear for the time to come We should hear as if we were to hear no more The Cordial which hath sometime revived us must not be lain aside lest for want of it another time we faint quite away The reason why they were ready to faint under afflictions Heb. 12.5 was because they had forgotten the Exhortation which speaketh to them as to Sons For this cause Jesus Christ often bids his Disciples remember the word he had spoken to them and knowing their frailty promises his Spirit Joh. 14.26 and that says he ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã shall bring to his remembrance Secondly consider Not to remember the words of Christ is a sad sign of our dis-esteem of Jesus Christ We usually remember Precepts Counsels and Sayings according to the authority which the person hath with us from whence they come It is a very great dishonour to Jesus Christ when he shall cast his words behind our backs Did we honour Jesus Christ as our King Lord and Law-giver we should be more careful to remember what he hath spoken to us We often blame our Heads as if the fault lay only there that we do not remember the words of Christ when indeed the fault lies most in the Hearts that we have not more and esteem of Christ there Thirdly The time will come when we shall dearly repent every Truth forgotten that we did not endeavour to seal instruction upon our Hearts First When God shall with-hold instruction from us because we have refused it the time may come when as Amâs 8.12 Men shall run to and fro and seek the Word of the Lord and shall not find it and then we shall see the worth of the Word that now we prize not Secondly When God shall call us to account for all Sermons and Instructions we have received as he will certainly do though we forget yet he will remember and he will ask how we have kept and improved the Word he hath spoken to us To help us in keeping or remembring the words of Christ First Let our hearts be affected with the worth and excellency of the Word that it is more precious than Gold or Silver and then we shall keep it as choyce Treasure That which a man prizeth he will keep in safe custody and have often in his eyes as David sayes of the Word Psal 119.97 O how I love thy Law it is my meditation all the day long If a man account the Word as his Treasure he will not forget it as Jerem. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments or a Bride her Attires This they forget not Yet because we account the Word as excellent and necessary as these therefore it follows Yet my people have forgotten me dayes without number Secondly Apply every word of Christ to your own Soul though men will not keep what is anothers yet usually they keep what is their own while men carve away the Word to others as if it concern'd not them it is no marvel if they keep it not but if we accounted every word as spoken to us and our portion we should hear and keep it Men remember the news which concerns themselves We should hear Christ speaking as Job 5.27 Hear thou this know it for thy good Thirdly Meditate often upon what you have received as Mary pondered the sayings which she heard in her heart The way to keep any thing safe is to have a constant eye upon it Meditation is the Souls serious retiring into it self to take a view of all that of God that is laid up within it self Fourthly Hasten to do all that you have heard and learned Psal 119.16 It is said by David I made haste and prolonged not the time to keep his Commandements A man will not easily forget his Trade for if we daily obey commands and believe promises we cannot easily forget the commands and promises given to us which last direction leads me to the second Exhortation Secondly It may exhort us to keep the words of Christ with an Evangelical and Practical keeping Keep the Word as a man keeps his Rule or the Souldier keeps his Weapon let not the Word depart from thee and do not thou depart from it by forsaking the appointments and commands of Christ First Consider That if we do not keep the words of Christ by obeying and a suitable walking we do but in vain pretend love to Jesus Christ as they that had no more of Christ but to call him Lord Mat. 7.21 Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven c. So not every one that sayes he loves me but he that doth my Word he is my friend Secondly Consider What a sin it is to pretend love to Christ and not so truly to love Him as to keep his Words 't is Hypocrisie they be Christs false friends an open enemy is less dangerous than they Ezek. 33.31 They hear my words but they will not do them their heart goes after convetousness They be false to themselves and delude their own souls with a bare profession and hearing Jam. 1.22 Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only deceiving your own souls Thirdly Consider What judgment they incurr and who can tell how great it is 'T is called a beating with many stripes when the least stripe from that hand can break the loyns Luke 12.47 He that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stâipes Fourthly Consider This is the clearest evidence of our interest in Christ of his love to us That we keep his Commandements By this we know that we love him as our Christ when we do not only love him as a Jesus a Saviour but obey him as a Lord and follow his Law When God shall write his Law in our hearts is not this an evidence that Christ is ours Fifthly Great and many are the encouragements which he hath promised to them that keep his words There be many blessings in the Word but they only have the blessings for theirs who keep his Word James 1.15 Whoso looketh into the perfect Law of Liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the Word this man shall be blessed in his deed he shall ask what ye will and have it Job 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you That we may do the words of Christ First Let it be the aim and intention of our Souls when we come to hear to turn hearing into doing Say as Paul did Acts 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me to do and Cornelius Acts 10.33 Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things
in these we may see him in these we may enjoy him by these we may be made like to him as in 2 Cor. 31.18 But we all with open faâe behold as in a Glass the glory of God and are changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as hâ the Spirit of the Lord. Thirdly They make their abode with them in the Spirit which proceeds from the Father and the Son So they may both be said truly to abide with us while we have the Spirit the Comforter which proceeds from the Father and the Son as a pledge of their love Joh. 15.20 When the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father I will send him says Christ even the spirit of truth which ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã which proceedeth from the Father There is an ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a Procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son to the People that keep his Word and thus Believers are said to hold fellowship with the Father and the Son in the first Epist of John 23. It is by the Spirit we are drawn being drawn we come being come we are enabled to walk with God in Christ It is the Spirit that doth for all us As in the Eccho the Aire being moved by the voyce returns the same sound by its own motion So in all our Communion with God and Christ the Soul being moved by the Spirit returns answer by vertue of the Spirits motion in us Come says the Spirit I come says the Soul being taught by the same Spirit All the works wrought on the Souls of men in order to Salvation are wrought of God and Christ in us but by the Spirit As in these three special particulars First By the Spirit they instruct and teach The Spirit is an enlightening Spirit a Spirit of Judgment and of Burning The Spirit reveals the counsels of God the great Mysteries of the Kingdom leads into all Truth makes men wise to Salvation Secondly By this Spirit they quicken and comfort the Souls of men Rom. 5.5 It is by the Spirit that the love of God iâ shed abroad in our hourts Our cold and frozen spirits are warmed and made fit for action and by this Spirit we are awakened Hence the Church prayes for the breathings of this Spirit Cant. 4.16 Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices âââof ãâã flow out Thirdly By his Spirit they do strengthen and establish the hearts of men in the ways of Holiness thus they are made strong in the Lord and in the power of his might strong to resist temptations strong to suppress corruptions strong to perform duties by this Spirit they are carried through all difficulties by this Spirit their infirmities are healed they are made to persevere and kept stedfast and unmoveable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord and sealed up to the day of Redemption Thus God and Christ do make their abode with them that keep the Words of Christ till they come to make an everlasting abode with them in Heaven And according to the workings of this Spirit more or less in the hearts of men God is said to be present or absent from his people Secondly The Reasons why God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his words First Because of their special love to and care of them that keep his words Indeed all the care of God is concerning his people that he hath in the world therefore in the second Commandement he is said to shew mercy to thousands of them that fear him and keep his Commandments that do not cast his words behind their backs and forsaking his Appointments follow their own Inventions So that if we faithfully keep his Word he will abide with us in our work And this is the great Reason in the Text My Father will love him not but that he loves his Elect from Eternity but he will manifest his Love to them and therefore he will make his abode with them as the people of his Love for in Deut. 32.9 The Lords Portion is his People and Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance And in Mal. 3.17 they are called his Jewels and men will abide with their Treasure Secondly Because of the near Relation that is between God and Christ and them that keep his Word That is a very full place of Scripture for this purpose Mat. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother What nearer Relation can there be than these So near are they to Jesus Christ that keep his Word observe his Will and be true and faithful to his Appointments and sure such near Relations will desire Cohabitations on both sides First God and Christ are said to stand Related in a Paternal Relation Secondly They are said to stand Related in a Conjugal Relation First God and Christ stand in a Paternal Relation to his People First God is their Father and they are his Sons and Daughters And this the Church doth acknowledge in Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not thou O Lord art our Father c. And with this the Lord comforted mourning Zion Isai 49.14 15. But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But God says Can a Woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the Sons of her womb Yea they may forget yet I will not forget thee Behold I have graven thee on the palms of my hands c. My abode is with thee Secondly Jesus Christ is their Father Isai 9.6 The everlasting Father Therefore he promiseth his Disciples in this 14 John 18. I will not leave you ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Orphans or Fatherless children He is the most affectionate tender-hearted Father Tam pater neââ tam pius nemo None so good none such a Father as he says Terâul Secondly God and Christ stand related to them that keep his Word in a Conjugal relation and God hath laid a special command of co-habitation upon persons in this relation The man must dwell with his own Wife First God is related as a Husband And will not God dwell with his People when he hath espoused to himself I will betrothed thee unto me for ever Hosea 2.19 Yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies I have even betreth thee unto me in faithfulness And in Isai 54.5 6. For thy Maker is thy Husband c. For the Lord hath called thee as a Woman forsaken c. Secondly Jesus Christ is the Husband of his People as we see in the whole Book of Canticles And so in Ephes 5. from the 29. Verse to the end of the Chapter Now where shall God and Christ make their abode but with their espoused Ones Doth Jesus Christ delight to
that I should be charged with such a horrid impiety as this Oh but Brethren the very truth is it is a very common thing by interpretation to give the lye to God and all that do not believe according to that Gospel-believing that you have heard do tell God to his face that he is a Liar How doth that appear Why take a little help such I am able to give you To profess that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God that he came to be the Saviour of the World is ordered out to be our Righteousness is sent of God to preach Liberty to captives to heal diseased souls and to deliver poor creatures from the bondage of the Devil these things people generally profess to believe but mark you now they never come to Christ nor never set in with him upon this account and to this purpose O Lord thou art the Jesus the Anointed of God I come to thee for life I am a poor dead creature I am in a state of unrighteousness and thou art given to be for righteousness Lord I flye to thee for it I am a poor diseased creature the Plague is set upon my soul and thou art appointed to heal the Soul of the Plague I come to thee for healing There is not one of thousands that come thus to Christ Will you now see how the lye is given to God I profess for my part saith one I know no such matter Jesus is the Christ and I profess to believe so and he is appointed of God for such and such things he is sent to preach liberty to the captives I know not that there is such bondage Christ came to save sinners alas I know no need of any such salvation by him he came to heal diseased Souls I am well enough what need have I of Christ What is this but to give the lye to God He that receives not Christ makes God a liar for he doth in effect say Lord thou sayest so and so concerning the World I know nothing of all this and so the lye is given to God And is it nothing to give the lye to the great God the God of Truth And I tell you while you profess this Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God and in the mean time flye not to him you believe him to be the Son of God and that all authority is given unto him and you will not subject to his authority why you give the lye to God and is this nothing 2. Consider the sad condition of such as believe not according to a right Gospel-believing they are such as are liable to the dreadfulest touches from the Devil that possibly can be He that believeth is born of God overcomes the World and is enabled to keep himself that the wicked one doth not touch him with a mortiferous touch But I tell thee whatever thou art that are under the power of unbelief thou are in danger of a dreadful touch from the Prince of Darkness And if thou livest and diest in a state of unbelief thou wilt fall under the power of condemnation I remember what our Saviour speaks and consider well of it You stand out in opposition to my Doctrine but I tell you Except you believe I am he you shall dye in your sins a dreadful word you shall dye in your sins and what then be damned eternally this is the condition of all such as are in a state of unbelief But then on the other hand in case we be able to give a good account of our believing that Jesus is Christ the Son of God and of our believing on him concerning whom these Testimonies are given Oh what cause have all such to rejoyce in their condition the condition of such persons is happy beyond all expression and comprehension that have owned these Truths owned that Jesus of whom these faithful testimonies are given Now all the Chapter according to the account I have given you comes in to the purpose of comforting and rejoycing the hearts of such persons Here is your comfort now really believing according to a right interpretation of Gospel-believing this is your priviledge you are the persons that are born from above you are the persons that shall be enabled to overcome the world to bear up against all opposition that Men and Devils can make against you you are the persons that have the witness within you and you shall be able to bear up against all the contradictions of sinners you are the persons that have Christ and have eternal life by him you shall have it nay you have it already He that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life he hath it in the beginnings of it and shall have it in the compleat state of it being brought over to Gospel-believing you may come with boldness to God in a way of Prayer with holy confidence that whatever else you ask believing you shall have a good account of it God doth not neglect any believing Prayer of a believing Soul And all the priviledges of the Gospel are entailed upon you and you are entitled unto them and you shall have the benefit of them while you live and when you dye unto all eternity well may it be said of such a person Blessed is be and she that hath believed with a Gospel-believing Gospel-Truths and Testimonies concerning Christ and on Christ on whom those Testimonies are given for there shall be a full and perfect accomplishment of what ever God hath spoken with his mouth concerning such And then lastly if the Grace of God hath brought us over to a closing with Christ of whom these Truths and Testimonies are given why the last branch of the explication is but this That you would but justifie your believing and labour to manifest the reality of your believing according to the Gospel by a suitable walking this is that that shall be the closing up of this application Oh Brethren let us consider well our Saviour tells us in Matth. 11. Wisdom is justified of her Children Why if ever we mean to approve our selves to be Wisdoms Children our care must be for to give in our Justification of Wisdoms sayings and for to carry it in a congruousness and suitableness unto that Gospel-believing which we profess to be by grace brought over to Why but what is that you will say why consider the Text and see what remains of the Chapter I shall make it our give it out to you in this way Why first of all this one special duty that lies upon you That you would study your mercy and know what God hath been to you and done for you and how highly you are dignified and not be always in a fluctuating state and upon the questioning and disputing point but to come to some well grounded confidence that you may be able to say We know that this and that is our condition and this and that is our dignified priviledge that we are planted under Do but
mark how the point in hand doth charge this upon us in the thirteenth Verse of this Chapter These things have I writ to you that believe on the Name of the Son of God That you may know that you have eternall life Here is your duty according to what the Text it self doth charge upon you if you be such as by grace are brought over to a Gospel-believing the Apostle John that did write this Epistle and I from it preach unto you in the Name of the Lord and by authority from him that this is your duty to know that you are persons that have eternal life that you are such as Christ by his Bloud hath made a purchase of eternal life for that he hath by his Bloud once for all entred into the holy place that is not made with hands that he may prepare for you and that you might have the possession of those blessed Mansions that he hath made preparation of Eternal life it is yours and you may be bold to claim it and you are bound to hope and rejoyce in the expectation of the full enjoyment of it and not to be always upon the question and disputing point but to go on with a holy confidence towards God according to what the Apostle expresses 1 Cor. 2. We know that when this earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved we shall have a House not made with hands c. But then a second thing that I have to charge upon you is this that you would acknowledge with all thankfulnesse and enlargednesse of heart to God the riches of his mercy and grace to you that hath been pleased to call you out of an unbelieving world and bâing âou over to the Gospel and to the participations that are by Christ ââcording to the Gospel Oh! this you should set your hearts upon âây admiring the riches of his grace and say Lord why shouldst thou manifest thy self to us and not to the World That many thousands should live and die in the total ignorance of Christ and the Gospel-mysteries or else live and dye in an empty profession and yet that God should be pleased to pitch upon me This is that the Text doth hint unto us in the nineteenth verse of this Chapter Oh! saith he in a triumphing manner We know that we are of God and that the whole world lyes in wickedness Oh! our mercies and the riches of Grace that hath appeared to us while the whole world that lies in wickedness is put into the Malignant one lies in the Devil for he is the Malignant evil one while the whole world lies in the Devil in malignity Oh! It is a sad condition infinitely more sad than for a man to lie in the most noysomest stinking Ditch or in the loathsomest kennel why this is that that heightens the mercy to poor souls that are called by grace according to the purpose of God that while the whole world lies in wickedness and so are like to lie yea and to lie in Hell to all eternity that God should please to lay you in the bosom of his Son and to take you into the arms of his mercy this is that that should heighten our thankfulness I may make use of that expression which we find in Acts the fourth when Paul and Barnabas came unto a company of heathens and they saw what great things were done by them and took notice of the gracious spirit that they discovered sure say they The Gods are come among us in the likeness of men Considering the state of times and what a height of wickedness many at this day are grown up unto the dreadful swearing blaspheming of God and his ways truly judge of it your selves whether we may not say the Devils are come among us in the likeness of men Why now Oh! how should we heighten our love and thankfulness to God that should please in free grace to bring us over to close with Jesus Christ But then 4 as many as are brought over to Gospel-believing this is your duty to study and endeavour what you can your advantages in faith and so the Apostle gives it in charge here in the Chapter in v. 13. These things have I writ to you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the Son of God This is that you should set about if God hath brought you over to a closing with Christ and an embracing of the Testimonies concerning him believe more and more labor for your advancement and let it be your prayer Good Lord encrease our faith labor that you may be clear in your apprehensions of gospel-mysteries and that you may be more strong in your adherence to Christ of whom those Gospel-testimonies are given and that you may not only come to have an adhering faith but to an assuring faith that you may not be like waves tossed and tumbled up and down but that you may come to be rooted and established and grounded in your faith that you may not come to be unsettled by Heresie corrupt Doctrines or the Apostacy of others but that you may be stedfast and unmoveable Yet further fifthly This is to be given in charge to such as do believe according to the Gospel that they carry it suitably to a believing state as in those particulars that I have insisted upon so in a deportment congruous and sutable to the privileges which belong to believing You are born of God carry it as men and women that are so indeed what I born of God the sons and daughters of God What and not live according to God and not study conformity to God I remember what he speaks there concerning Amnon How is it that thou bring the Kings son art lean from day to day How is it that we that profess to be the sons and daughters of God are lean and lank not more improved that we do not shew forth God and express Christ This lies in the beginning of the Chapter If you be born of God remember that you be born of him that is the God of Love And therefore you are to manifest this birth and your believing and your being born of God by loving God and by loving them that are born of God He that believeth is born of God and be that loveth him that begat loveth him that is begotten of him The God of love doth beget a people of love a loving God a loving people and this is that you should express your believing by and your adoption by by the love you bear to God and the children of God A hateful spiteful spirit where it doth discover it self speaks those persons not to be born of God but of the Devil carry it as Believers as persons of God by studying a conformity to God and by keeping his Commandments subjecting your selves to his authority not living according to your lusts but according to the laws and rules which God
2 Chr. 8.11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the City of David into the house that he had built for her for he said my Wife shall not dwell in the house of David King of Israel because the places are holy whereunto the Ark of the Lord hath come This Ark was the dwelling place of God it was the habitation of God Psal 99.1 The Lord reigneth he sitteth between the Cherubins Now these Cherubins were placed over the Ark it was the speaking place of God he met his people there and there he gave an answer to them Exod. 25.21 22. And thou shalt put the Mercy-seat above upon the Ark and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee And there will I meet with the and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy-seat from above the two Cherubins which are upon the Ark of the Testimony of all things I shall give thee in Commandment unto the children of Israel This Ark was Gods Foot-stool and all the pleople of God worship him before the Foot-stool of God Ps 99.5 Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his foot-stool for he is holy The Ark it was the glory and the strength of Israel Psal 78.61 And he delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into his enemies bands and it was the terrour of the enemies of God And therefore when the Ark came into the battel the Philistines were afraid and said Woe unto us for God is come down into the Camp And indeed this Ark was called Jehovah Num. 10.35 And it caâe to pass when the Ark set forward that Moses said Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and when it rested he said Return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel In ãâã word the Ark was a pledge and a visible symptom of Gods gracious presence with his people as long as the Ark was saved they were saved and when the Ark was with them then Gods presence was with them but when the Ark was gone God was gone his comforting presence his protecting presence and his preserving presence And therefore no wonder that this good old man face âââching here sort fear of the Ark. I call him good old man many are of âpihion that he was not good because he suffered his Sons to be wicked âand indeed his fault was great but surely he was a good man and I have two Reasons to prove it First in that he took the punishement of his iniquity so patiently It is the Lord let him do what sâem ãâã good And secondly he was a good man as appears by the Text his solicitousness for the Ark He sate trembling for fear of the Ark. Now this Ark was a Type of three things First it was a Type of Jesus Christ for God spake from the Ark so God speaks to us by Christ Secondly it was a Type of the Church of Christ for as the Ark was the preserver of the two Tables of the Law so the Church of Christ is the preservative of the Scriptures Thirdly the Ark was a Type of the Ordinances of Christ for as God did communicate himself by the Ark so God by his Ordinances communicates his Counsels Comforts and Grace unto his people The Ordinances of Christ they are the âraculuin by which he conveys himself unto his people Thus I have shewed you what the Ark was I shall gather two observations from the words 1. That when the Ark of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts 2. That a true Child of God is more troubled and more solicitous what shall become of the Ark than what shall become of Wife and Children or Estate I shall begin with the first Doctrine That when the Aak of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts Or if I may put this Doctrine in a Gospel dress take it thus That when the Gospel is in danger of losing when Gospel-Ordinances are in danger of being lost and Gospel-Ministers in danger of losing that then the people of God have trembling heads and careful and solicitous hearts about it Mark what I say I say not when the Ark is lost for that was death to old Eli that broke his neck and it cost the life of Eli's Daughter-in-Law when the Ark of God was taken she took no comfort in her child though a man-child she regarded it not For the glory is departed from Israel the Ark of God is taken I say not when the Ark of God is lost but I say when it is in danger of losing when the Gospel is in danger the Ministers of the Gospel in danger and the Ordinances in danger to be lost then the People of God have trembling hearts and careful heads When God threatned the Israelites that he would not go with them they were troubled for the loss of Gods presence and would not put on their Ornaments Exod 33.3 4. I will not go up in the midst of thee for thou art a stiff-necked people lest I consume thee in the way And when the people heard these evil tidings they mourned and no man did put on his ornaments 1 Sam. 7.2 And it came to pass while the Ark abode in Kiriath-jearim that the time was long for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord that is after the presence of God speaking from the Ark 2 Sam. 11.10 11. David would have had Vriah to have gone down to his house and made merry And Uriah said unto David The Ark and Israel and Judah abide in Tenis and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are incamped in open fields shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 1 King 19.10 And Elijah said I have been very jealous for the Lord of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thy Altars and slain thy Prophets with the sword and I even I only aân left and they seek my life to take it away Thus you see when the Ark is in danger the people of God mourn and are sorrowful And there be four reasons why the people of God are so much troubled when the Ark of God is in danger Reason 1. Because of the great love they bear to the Ark of God As God loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob Psal 87.2 so the people of God love the Ordinances of God and the faithful Ministers of Christ Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the
he will command deliverance for you in his own time Snatch not after deliverance by any preposterous and unlawful courses before God holdeth it out to you lest you provoke him to detain it the longer from you To conclude all I shall take leave of you in the words of the Holy Ghost recorded Acts 20.32 Heb. 13.20 21. And now brethren I shall commend you to God to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified And the God of peace which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant 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 A Farewel Sermon Preached at Great Ayton in the County of Yorkshire by George Evanke Chaplain to the Right Worshipful Sir George Norwood Baronet at Cleaveland in Yorkshire Matth. 26.39 Nevertheless not my will but thy will be done THe Subject of this Chapter is a sad Story and Tragical Relation of a dying Jesus In the beginning of this Gospel you may see him coming into the World in a Shower Matth. 2.13 And now in the end of it you finde him going out in a Storm Mat. 27.22 Alas that so good a Ghest should find so bad a welcome and that the Lord of Life should so soon be put to death When the Angels those Heavenly Choristers first sang that Christmas Carol of a Saviour that was born into the World Luke 2.10 11 12 13 14. one would have thought the World should have fallen a dancing after such Evangelical Musick and that all hearts should have like the Babe in Elizabeths womb leapt for joy at the news of a new born Prince But it was quite contrary for instead of joyning in that Heavenly Quire in gratulating the happy arrival of this young King into their Country they take the Alarum of his Birth as if an Enemy had landed in their Coasts And hereupon Herod presently heads an Army goes out against him and makes the poor Prince to fly the Country Mat. 2.13 14. But though the meanest of his Birth Extraction and Descent may give them distast at first yet when he begins to display his Divinity among them by working such amazing Miracles as none could work and Preaching such moving Sermons as none could ever Preach Oh then they will recant their Error and own their Saviour and the joyful shout of a King will be heard amongst them as it is expressed in Numb 23.21 Truly one would think that it would have been thus but Oh no! the Rocky hearts of these Marble wretches would not yield nor melt nor thaw nor take impression but still they continue in their unbelief and hardness of heart disowning the Lord that bought them and consulting his death who was contriving to bring them to life All the displeasure he would have done them was to take their sins from them Mat. 11.28 And all the pleasure they meant to shew him was to take his Life from him Mat 26.59 All the hurt that ever Christ did them was to pray for them Father forgive them forgive them And all the good they ever did him was to cry Crucifie him Crucifie him And Crucifie him they did before they could sit down Whose Death and Crucifixion is described and represented to your view 1. By the Antecedents or things before 2. By the Consequents or things following after The Antecedents were 1. The several Preparitories to it Chap. 2. The judicial progress about it Chap. seqr The Prerogatives were 1. The Jews conspiring ver 3 4 5. 2. Judas his Covenancing to affect it 14 15 16. 3. Christs own preparing and fitting himself for it that he might without relucting submit to it and without the least Symptome of disponding encounter and go thorow with it And this is the Argument of the latter part of this Chapter at large and of my Text in short Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me yet not my will but thy will be done Which words I may call The pious Souls sequestring it self for dying or Our Saviours Preparatory to his Passion Wherein you have two Observables 1. Here 's an humble Petition presented Let this Cup pass 2. Here 's an hearty Resignation promised Not my will but thine be done I. First An humble Petition Let this Cup pass from me Our Saviour was at this time very apprehensive of Death The sorrows of the Grave âhaâl âââââssed him about and the pains of Hell had taken hold upon him ãâã ââw in this dark condition and Spiritual Damp that his Soul lay ãâ¦ã âe gets himself out into the Garden alone and there he fits weepâââ ââââââah under the Juniper-tree and like dying Hezekiah he lays ãâ¦ã and spââads his Condition before the Lord imploring him Samaritan-like to shew him some pity in this his Extremity Father saith he Let this cup pass from me Now in that Christ betakes himself to God for help in this hour of heaviness you may learn hence It 's better to intrust and interest God for our help and comfort than man For man yea the best of men are but men and when they have done the best for us it may be they can do no good to us When the man in the Kings had made his misery known to his Neighbours and cryed to them Help Help you know what an answer he got How can we help except the Lord help When Job had told over the sad story of his great losses to his three friends expecting some redress to so unparalleld grievances you know how long they sate by him without giving him one word of Counsel or administring the least word of Comfort which forced him into that passionate Resolve Miserable Comforters are ye all When Judas lay under the Convulsions and Corrodings of a grumbling Conscience and ran to the Priests for Absolution A look thee to that was all the comfort he could get from them Ah! that mans condition is most to be pitied who runs to none but man for pity When all is done God is our surest stay He is usually the last but always the best Refuge Therefore when we have read over the sad Lecture of our Losses and poured out our wants and wrongs into the bosom of our safest and firmest friends then is this Apostrophe this Turn the sweetest Turn the Soul can take when it can Turn to God as you see Christ doth here say Father if it be possible let this cup this cross pass from me II. Secondly Here 's an hearty resignation in these words Nevertheless not my will but thine be done And if he had said 't is true it 's Ease which this Nature this Humane Nature of mine would have but if thou Lord art otherwise resolv'd to continue me in pain I
grief no doubt to a godly Parent to see his Child discontented with his allowance and Esau like slight his birth-right Ah! God is not pleased to see his Children displeased nor contented to see them discontented I read in Psal 35.27 That God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his people But I no where read that he âakes pleasure in the discontent of his people No no this passion drove God himself into a passion against the Jews of old because saith he You have not walk't thankfully before me in the use of my blessings therefore you shall serve your enemies in hunger and nakedness Whereas on the other hand it pleaseth God to see his people truckle under the Cross and yet content to be ground betwixt the Teeth and wounded with the Tongues of malicious Neighbours and yet content To see and hear the delicious Accents of his dying Martyrs when in their extreamest tortures they cryed out nothing but Holy Jesus Holy Jesus To see and hear patient Job sitting on his Dung-hill and bearing his burthen bravely mingling his Groans with Praises and justifications of God this this please God like an Anthem Sung by Angels in the morning of the Resurrection and therefore he hath Crowned him with the Wreath of Glory In all this Job sinned not II. Secondly By discontent you gratifie the Devil When Nero that he might the better conceive the flames of Troy had set Rome on fire he sate down and sang Songs unto it Oh the Devil is never so merry as when he sets us on fire with compassion Consuming and Smudging our âiâes away in the smoak of discontent Such a fire makes the Devil a Bone-fire And this was his aim in afflicting Job not to make him a poor man but an impatient man But he was basely mistaken for when he expected that Job should have fallen down to blaspheme God Job on the contrary falls down and blesseth God The Lord hath freely given and justly taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Ah! how black lookt Satan at the fall of the Expression from Jobs lips How did this gaul and gravel a malicious Devil Certainly this one word of Jobs did wound Satan more than all the afflictions wounded Job Ah friends get but your wills to buckle under the will of God and in all Overture of condition to acquiesce in a Providence and this double advantage will come of it God will have his end and Satan will miss of his III. Thirdly and lastly you can no way advantage your selves by Discontent but may disturb your Conscience and hugely prejudice your own peace As the Prisoner in Iron hurts himself more by striving to shake thân off than the Fetters would do by being on So many a man by frââ ãâã aâd âiââââânt makes the Cross bigger to himself than ever God made ãâ¦ã âontent being a greater affliction to him than the affliction it sââââreater I say by how much it sits nearer to the Spirit than any outward crosses do or can do I remember what Seneca writes of Caesar who having appointed a great Feast for his Nobles and Friends and it falling out that the day proved exceeding foul even so as nothing could be done and being extreamly displeased at it in the height of madness took their Bows and shot at Jupiter in defiance of him but it happened that their Arrows lighting short of Jupiter fell down upon their own heads and wounded them mortally Thus is it in the point in hand our murmuring and impatiency are as Arrows shot not at Jupiter but at Jehovah at God himself hence said Moses Exod. 16.8 to that Murmuring Generation Your murmurings are not against us but against God which Arrows may wound your selves deeply but they never hurt God at all they wound your Consciences with guilt and your hearts with disquiet and oft times causeth God to wound you too with punishments which if it had not been for your murmurings he would never have brought upon you Miriam murmured and God smote her with Leprosie The Israelites murmured and God sent Serpents among them they stung God with fierce Tongues and God stung them with fiery Serpents Never then let a people murmur against their Maker more but quietly submit to his Providential proceedings lest otherwise by strugling and striving against God they do but make their bands stronger and their condition worser Like the silly Partridge which by her fluttering breaks her wings but not the Net My advice then friends is this when ever God binds the Cross upon your backs or tyes or stakes you down to a sick bed or any other sad or unealie condition since these Cords of his you cannot break lye down gently and suffer the hand of the Lord to do what he pleaseth swallowing down this bitter Pill which he forceth down your throat for the health of your Souls I come now to the second thing Viz. the VSES of the Doctrine And upon enquiry I finde two sorts of men Reproveable 1. Those that do their own will 2. Those that do the Devils will First then It speaks Terror to those that do their own will such were the Israelites 2 Sam. 8.5 they would needs have a King to rule over them this was their will and their will they would have although they know it jarr'd and extreamly interfear'd both with the will of God and his Prophets yet still the cry of the Rabble and the vote of the multitude was this Nay but we wil have a King ver 19. The like you see in Rachel Gen. 30.1 Give me Children or I dye Albeit she saw that her Husband could not and that God would not humour her yet still she cries Give me Children or I dye Willful woman if thou canst live in pleasure wilt thou needs dye in a pit chusing rather to have thy body killâd then thy will cross'd This is the case of all Mankind till Grace work a change and till God of an unwilling make us a willing people in the day of his power Till then we have a will which is not only blemisht with an indispesition but also byass'd with an opposition to Gods for saith Paul that Doctor of the Gentiles Rom. 8. It is not subject to the will of God neither indeed âan be Mark it is not subject nor can be subject what more can be said to abase the natural pride of man as he hath such a mind as neither understands nor can understand the things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 So he hath such a will as neither is subject nor can be subject Rom. 8. Thus lies fallen man lost man foâlorn man degenerated man thus lies he âockt up in obstinacy darkness and unbelief minding his own things dâing his own will and damning his own soul until God spring in as the Angel did to Peter in prison and bring him news of his spiritual enlargement out of that dead and damning Estate to which he had thrown and enthral'd himself body and soul
intemperately to the honour of his Idol only in dead Vessels of Gold and Silver But these in doing thus abuse living Vessels living bodies and living souls such Vessels as by Baptism were markt out for God and separated and sealed to his holy service they abuse and prostitute to a Lust to a Whore to the Devil Ah! who can but weep and weep again to see how much of our English Bloud is poyson'd with these beastly Enormities at this day and how many of our otherwise hopeful Gentlemen who might do God and their Country much service and be a great help to the publick good and peculiar blessing to the place where they live do basely and unworthily melt away their youth and Emasculate their spirits in drunken Societies and Effeminate Embraces Alas that so many Noble Births so many sparkling Wits should be prostituted to Satans service and imployed in carrying on Satans cause while they know it not If they had found a Golden Chalice as Augustine observes of Lucinus they would have given it to the Church But God hath given them a Golden Wit a golden Head and golden parts and in these golden Cups and Challices they drink themselves to the Devil both body and soul for evermore Ah deluded and degenerated Gentlemen think with your selves seriously what answer you will make to your Judge at the general Audit-day for taking the Members of Christ and making them members of an Harlot Never see my face more said Joseph unless you bring your brother Benjamin with you Oh friends never think to see Gods face to your comfort in Glory if you carry not holy bodies and holy souls and holy affections with you God tells you his minde in Heb. Follow peace and holiness without which you shall never see the Lord You may go to Heaven without a peny in your purse but you shall never come there without holiness in your heart Heaven is a City where Righteousness dwells and therefore though God in his wonderful patience to poor lost man suffer the Earth to give the ungodly a little house-room a while yet sure I am he will never cumber Heaven with such a crew Before Enoch was translated to Heaven he walkt holily upon Earth else God had never desired his Company so soon as he did And before the Saints departed commenced and took their degree of Glory they kept their Acts and performed the exercises of grace and so must you the Scripture is plain Without Holiness none shall see the Lord. It 's true none goes to Heaven for his Holiness and this shews the Insufficiency of Holiness But it 's as true that none goes to Heaven without holiness and this argues the necessity of holiness And therefore though it be no plea for Heaven yet it will be your best Evidence and will you have your Evidences to seek when you should have them to shew Ah then as you value a portion among the Saints in Light and hope to live in Heaven when you can live no longer upon Earth Be holy as your Father which is in Heaven is holy Caesars money must be known by Caesars Image and Superscription and so must the Christian at the Reckoning day by the Terror of his Conversation Not every one that saith Lord Lord but he that doth the will of the Lord shall be saved saith Christ Your works must be your witnesses and your deeds must declare whose you are and to whom you belong And therefore begin to live that life now which you intend and hope to live for ever and continue not one day longer in that condition in which you would not die and appear at Judgment in Therefore go home and dress your selves not with good Cloaths but with good works and while others are querying what they shall eat and what they shall drink and what they shall put on study you how to live and how to dye and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ making no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof And when others are projecting how to improve a barren piece of ground let your contrivance be how to improve a barren minde and as their care is that their fields should not lye fallow so let it be your study not to let your hearts lye fallow and the rather because you see that this is the will of God even your sanctification that every one of you should possess his Vessel in holiness 1 Thes 4.3 4. Now that this is the will of God will appear upon a two-fold account 1. First from the price with which he hath redeemed us to it 2. And Secondly from the Promise which he hath made to Reward us for it 1. The price he paid down upon the nail was his own blood Tit. 2.14 He gave himself for us that he might Redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people Had man kept his primitive holiness Christ might have kept his life and have spared his pains It was mans lost Righteousness lost Holiness that Christ came to recover But this is a Point that needs pressing rather than proving which I shall undertake to effect by these ensuing obrestations and intreaties I beseech you upon the account of these three Considerations that you would approve your selves a holy Nation a Seed which the Lord hath blessed I beseech you 1. For my sake 2. For your sakes 3. For Christs sake First for my sake who am to come to you as a Petitioner and Messenger from the Lord and the sum of my desires is this I beseech you in Christs stead that you would be reconciled to God I am not courting you for your silver but for your souls and what will you grant me if this be denied me O the Lord make you a willing people in the day of his power God hath sent me to you as Jesse to David with this Present in mine hands and these Breathings in my heart after your Salvation O may they but prove serviceable and successful to your souls and I shall bless God that hath put it into mine heart thus to visit you But if you will not hear nor fear to do no more so wickedly My soul shall weep in secret for you Is it not sad to a tender Physitian to see his Patients to dye under his hands much sadder sure to a poor Minister to see souls drop to Hell one by one under his Pulpit and cannot help them cannot save them this must needs be a heart-sadding sight to one that 's sensible of the worth of souls It costeth the Mother no small pains to bring forth a living Child But ah the bitter Throws of that Minister that travels all the year long nay all his life long with a dead Child a dead-hearted people That spends his strength and like a Candle Swails out his life amongst his Parish and is forced at last to take up the Prophets complaint Who hath believed our report and to whom is the Arm of the Lord
revealed O my dear friends think solemnly and seriously what answer you intend to give me before I leave you Christ will not always cry Come the Spirit will not always cry Come neither must I the time is at hand when you will say one to another We had a Preacher we had a Teacher we had a well-wisher and a lover of our souls amongst us but we did not improve and profit under him as we might and therefore God hath sent him away from us as he did Jonah to Nineveh when Jerusalem despised him O hear me then while you may and pray with me while you may and accept of the tender of Salvation from me while you may Yet a little while and you that have seen me shall see me no more and you that have heard me as Job saith shall say Where is he It 's but a little and those Seats shall have other Hearers and this Pulpit have another Preacher It 's but a little that you have to hear and I have to speak in this place and shall not my Dying words be Living words to you shall my Farewel-Sermon be a forgotten Sermon and the last request I am like to make to you be repulsed and slighted by you O my dear Neighbours and Friends of whom I travel till Christ be formed in you Awake and live seek the Lord before the Grave and Hell shut their mouths upon you and before the Servant of the Lord sent now to warn you take his last leave of you and see your faces no more I am wounded I am wounded to think this Sermon should be Concluded before all your Souls be Converted and to leave any of this Congregation walking on in Hell Road when I am gone Oh that I knew but what to do to get you to do that to day which must be done or you may be undone to morrow If it were to follow you home and there to beg your Conversion on my bare Knees as a Câild begs his Fathers blessing If it were to go to my Closet ãâ¦ã is done and there to wrestle with God as Jaâââ did ãâ¦ã you my loving Parishioners till I get this anââââ ãâ¦ã âââssed them and they shall be blessed Nay though I were sure to go to Prison as soon as I come forth of the Pulpit yet I should think all well bestowed could I but see you begin to turn this Sermon into practice And to follow peace and holiness without which you cannot see the Lord. Oh what a joyful hours work would I esteem this and how heartily would I bless your God and my God that prospered his Word in the mouth of his servant making it a Salvation Word to as many as our Ear-witnesses of it this day This is the first Argument I beseech you for my sake Little do you think what a joy it 's to your Minister to see his Children as St. John speaks walking in the truth And on the contrary what an affliction to see you walk in Error and Sin Little do you think what a comfort it 's to me to think of making this account to God at the Judgment day Here are the Children which thou gavest me and I have lost none And on the other hand what an aking it is to my heart to think of bespeaking God at that time on this manner Here are none of the Children O Lord none of the Souls that thou didst commit to my trust for I have lost them all But I hope better things of you though I thus speak II. Secondly I beseech you for your own sakes Who will have the worse of it if this advice be not followed you or I Alas though it may be matter of Grief to me yet not of Guilt God will reward me according to my labour not according to my success We are said the Apostle A sweet Savour of Christ in them that perish mark in them that perish as well as in them that be saved Though the Patient dye yet the Physitian must be paid So albeit the people dye in their sins yet Gods Ministers may comfortably conclude with the Prophet Isa 49.4 Though I have laboured in vain and spent my strength for nought yet surely my Judgment is with the Lord and my work namely the reward of my work with my God Ah my friends it 's you that will have the worst of it one day if this Sermon be not faithfully followed and obeyed Read at your leasure Ezek. 3.16 17 18 and see whether I speak truth or a lye It 's you that must have the reward of punishment It 's you that must stand or fall that must be the Subjects of the pleasures of Heaven or the Objects of all the pains in Hell and should not you then be as much concern'd for your selves as I am for you Now you enjoy your health and the sad Accents of a dying sinner are not heard in your habitations but will it be always thus Now each of you sit under his Vine with delight and there is no carrying into Captivity nor no crying in your streets but will such times last always Now you can hawk hunt swear and drink and then you think you are qualified like Gentlemen but will this last always Suppose thou hadst a Crown on thy Head how long wouldst thou wear it Suppose thou hadst a Scepter in thy Hand how long wouldst thou hold it They are sick at Rome and dye in Princes Courts as well as at the Spittle yea Kings themselves cannot keep their Crowns on their heads nor their heads on their shoulders but must stoop when death strikes and go as naked to their Beds of Dust as other men and in that day all their thoughts their projects and their pleasures perish with them only their guilt of their sins which were the Ladders by which they did climb up to the top of their pleasures the top of their honors and preferments will dog them into another world Hence said Abner to Joah 2 Sam. 2.26 Know'st thou not that these things will be bitterness in the end You will now have your sweet-meats and your sweet drinks your sweet pleasures and pastimes let the Minister say what he will but do not you know that this will be bitterness in the end In Hell all the Sugar will be melted off wherein the Pill of your sins and temptations is wrapt and then the note you 'l fing will be that of the Emperor O quantum ob quantillum O what an eternity of pain have I for an inch of pleasure or an Ell of sinful delight As the Malefactor said to his Neighbour dost thou envy me my Grapes that I have stolen Alas they I cost me dear I must dye for them Ah envy not at the pleasures of a poor sinner they 'l cost his soul dear one day what doth Dives his Wine-cellar advantage him now in Hell while he cries out for a Cup of cold water and cannot have it O Sirs you cannot now conceive
can truly be called or by Christians can be counted heavy but sin and this is a burthen which makes the whole Creation to groan under it take away sin and a man's life will be no longer a burthen to him this is the heavy burthen as for other burthens they are light and that first Absolutely Secondly they are light comparatively 1. If you compare them with the pains which Christ endured Or Secondly With the pains of Hell which you deserved First If you compare them with the pains that Christ endured look but into Isa 53. and you shall see that whole Chapter spent in relating that bloody Tragedy which Christ acted for the Salvation of the World He was despised and rejected of men saith the Prophet He hath bore our Griefs and carried our Sorrows ver 4. He was wounded for our Transgressions and bruised for our Iniquities And thus the Text runs on in Teares O what a suffering-Race did he run that he might overtake us before we got to Hell Methinks I see what haste he makes on this suffering-Errand and hear him cry to his Father while yet afar off Lo I come to do thy will O my God See here how the heart of Christ like an Eccho rebounds to his Fathers call When his Father spoke to him to undertake the Redemption-Work of saving a lost and undone World he did not reluct nor answer with Moses Exod. 4.13 I pray thee send some other on this Message but Lo I come saith Christ to do thy will O my God And now Christians tell me Doth not thy dear Lord deserve thus much from thee to endure a little for his sake who hath endured so much for thine What though thy afflictions cost thee Tears Christ's afflictions cost him blood and though thou losest the comforts of this Life this is nothing comparable to Christ's loss who lost life it self Ah! what loss can match this loss and whose sufferings like his sufferings Do'st thou sigh under the sense of thy grievance thus My soul is sorrowful But Christ went further and said My soul is sorrowful to death Mat. 26.38 Do'st thou cry My God my God why hast thou afflicted me But Christ said more My God my God why hast thou forsaken me consider this and leave complaining Secondly Your Cross is easie if you compare it with the pain of Hell which you have deserved Ah! there 's never a one of you but would be in Hell before to morrow if God should give you your due there are many there for those very sins which you live in Dives is in Hell for making an Idol of his Wealth have none of you done so Haman is in Hell for pride and are you not proud Sodom is in Hell for contempt of the Prophets of the Lord and for neglecting the day of Peace and the day of Grace the day of Gods patience and striving with them and is not this Englands sin at this very day The old Word is burning in Hell for burning in lust on Earth and was this sin ever more predominant than in this juncture of time Herod hath been lying in Hell a thousand and six hundred years for taking John Baptists Head from him Ah England England Is not this thy charge Hath not this been thy practice these late years And art thou not plung'd deep in thy own blood-guiltiness Herod did but cut one mans Head off and he is gone to Hell for it Oh what an Hell may est thou look for who hast got so many Heads and drunk the Blook of thousands of the Saints and faithful Servants of the most High What City is there wherein there is not some Noble Births some of Englands Worthies Sacrificed to the bloody itch and Bedlam Surges of a Civil War I had almost said of an Vncivil Peace What Town is there wherein there is not some Families repeating over the Lamentations of Jeremiah and saying I am the man that hath seen affliction by the Rod of his wrath Sion doth mourn Judah is gone into captivity the prophets sigh the sheep are scattered and wo is my soul because of murderers How many of the dear Children of God are crying for bread for the powerful Preaching of the Word amongst them and there is no bread to be given them nor the pleasant voice of their faithful Ministers to be heared amongst them and they left to lament over their silenced Ministers as King Joash wept over the dying Prophet 2 Kings 13.14 O my Father my Father the Chariot of Israel and the horse-men thereof Will not God visit for these Will he not be avenged on such a Nation as this Yes yes he will Israel's woe may be England's warning Amos 4. Thus will I do unto thee and because I will do thus unto thee therefore prepare thy heart to meet thy God O England But this is a digression That which I am to speak to is this You are to bear the Cross contentedly because what ever you do Endure it is nothing to what you deserve or to what the damned in Hell Endure In Hell there is variety of torments and extremity of torments and eternity of torments not one way but a thousand wayes to make a poor soul miserable everlastingly miserable And who can bear variety Who can bear Eternity Who can bear Eternity of torments Yet all this you must bear if ever it be your lot to lie in Hell Here it may be you want one mercy but blessed be God you have another in lieu of it you want health but you want not friends you want money but you want not a Christ you want an Estate but you want not a contented mind though your life be not absolutely made up of comforts which is your misery yet it is not altogether composed of crosses and is not this a Mercy And thus is your life checqu'rd with blacks and whites so that you have never such cause of Mourning but withall you have some just ground of rejoycing but in Hell there 's nothing to be seen but objects of sorrow and nothing to be heard except inducements to grief not one merry day and one sad not one hour of pain and another of ease not one cross and one comfort but all crosses and curses do meet there like lines in their proper center Compare now your sufferings with the sufferings of Hell and let this quiet you That School-boy thinks he gets well off when deserving a Rod he escapes with a Reproof What a mercy then may you count it that when you deserve a Curse from Christ you escape with the Cress of Christ afflicted on Earth when you might justly be tormented in Hell Think of it then are you corrected It 's the Lords mercy that you are not consumed Hath God taken away your health from you it's well you escape so he might have taken away your life from you and your Christ from you and where had you been then In a word how much soever God
takes from you it 's less then you owe him and how little soever he leaves you it 's more than he owes you therefore in stead of murmuring that your condition is so ill bless God that it is no worse saying with Ezra Ez. 9.13 Thou O Lord hast punisht us less than our Iniquities have deserved Mr. COOPER'S FAREWELL-SERMON PHIL. 4.9 Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of Peace shall be with you THE Amannensis or Pen-man of this Epistle was Paul the Apostle who being Prisoner at Rome takes occasion from the benevolence of the Philippians sent unto him by Epaphroditus for the supply of his wants there to confirm them by this Epistle in the Faith notwithstanding his bonds to encourage them in godliness and walking worthy of the Gospel but especially in stedfastness unity and lowliness of mind to warn them against certain perverse Zealots of the Law who mingled Works with Faith in point of Justification and in a word to quicken them to the practice of all Christian duties My Text salls under the last of these heads wherein our blessed Apostle being about to Epilogize and drawing towards a conclusion endeavours to Epitomize his whole Epistle and to give them in a few words the sum of all his Apostolick Advice which was That they should live up to their knowledge practising with all saithfulness the things they had both learned and heard and received from the Lord by him Those things saith he which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you In which words you may observe these two things 1. A Precept holding forth the duty and employment of a Christian Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do 2. A Promise holding forth the priviledge and encouragement of a Christian And the God of Peace shall be with you First For the Precept it holds forth the duty an employment of a Christian and that is to live up to his knowledge to transcribe the Law of God into his life and to practice with all diligence what ever he hath learned and heard and received from the Lord whether by precept or example Secondly For the Promise it holds forth the priviledge and encouragement of a Christian and that is that doing what he knows and exercising himself in the practise of what he hath both heard and learned and received from the Lord he is sure to have God's presence with him not only in regard of his Essence for so he is every where and with every man present neither can he be otherwise but also in regard of his grace and savour Doct. Those that walk in obedience with God he will always be graciously present with them The God of Peace will vouchsafe his gracious presence to all those who have heard received and learned whether by Precept or Example the Truth as it is in Jesus are careful to do accordingly Such as yield obedience to God's holy Will endeavouring to practice what they have heard and to live up to the Truths they have learned shall never be forsaken but God will always afford them his gracious presence If any man practice what he knows provided that he know the Truth as it is in Jesus if any man walk in obedience with God endeavouring to express what he hath heard and learned and received from him by the holiness of his life and conversation the Lord will be graciously present with that man as a Pilot to guide him as a Rock to sustain him and as a Fountain of living water to minister all fulness to him In the prosecution of this Doctrine having shewed you how the Lord will be present with them that walk in obedience with him I shall give you the Reasons evincing it and so come to the practical improvement of the whole by way of Use and Application First Therefore by way of Explication The Lord will be graciously present with those that walk in obedience with him these eight wayes 1. By way of gracious Acceptation Never did any man yet study to approve himself to God in a way of dutiful obedience but the Lord also was present with him in a way of gracious acceptance A wicked man not studying obedience to God finds no acceptance with him in ought that he doth the sighs of a wicked man are unsavoury his solemn Sacrifice is as dung and his prayers are abominable God will not come near him for his breath is infectious But for those that live up to their knowledge God highly favours them and takes all that they do in good part Not a good word falls from their lips but is recorded Mal. 3.16 Not a tear drops from their eyes but 't is taken up and bottled Psal 56.8 Their weak prayers sound like melody their broken sighs smell like Incense Gen. 8.21 and their very stammerings seem Rhetorical Cant. 2.14 When all the glistering shews of hypocrites evaporate and come to nothing yet they that study to walk in obedience with God are crowned with acceptation We oftentimes come to God with broken pravers but if we be such as make it our care to practice what we have heard and learned and received God spell can out our meaning and will take our weak performances as a most grateful present 2 Cor. 8.12 2. By way of Direction The Pilot by his presence in the Ship and by his Skill and Activity turns the Rudder of the Ships and guides the course thereof steering a right course towards the desired Haven So God as a spiritual Pilot is present in the Ship of every obedient Soul guiding it by his Counsel and enabling it by the direction and guidance of his own holy spirit to steer a right course to the Haven of Eternal Rest By nature we understand not the things of the Spirit of God neither indeed can we because they are spiritually discerned but saith Christ if any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God John 7.17 Knowledge is the Pilot to guide us in our obedience if Zeal be not according to knowledge it 's will-worship and there is no better way to become knowing than by doing and practising what we have already learned The disobedient and ungodly are in darkness until now neither can they discern as they ought what concerns their everlasting peace but the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him endeavouring to do what they know and he will teach them the way that they should choose Psal 25 12 14. Oh then how great is this priviledge that God will resolve our doubts acquaint us what is his Will and give his Spirit to lead us into all necessary Truths when we make it our care to answer our knowledge with suitable practise He that doth not what he knows shall not shortly know what to do
not beat folly out of our hearts We have been unprofitable all our days some have done thee more service in one year than we in all our time We have forgotten thee in the day of prosperity and sung a lullaby to our own Souls Oh that we could speak these things with broken and bleeding hearts But as in the time of our ignorance we could sin without reluctancy so now we can sin without repentance Oh that thou wouldst smite the rock that there might flow out tears VVe can do nothing by way of expiation if we would weep out our eyes nothing but the blood of Christ can take away our guilt O that there might be a spring of that blood upon our souls at this time Oh that that blood may at this time bring a report of love and a message of mercy to us Do we beg any more than thou hast promised Oh hast not thou accepted of that satisfaction that Christ hath made in his own person If we had suffered the torments of Hell it could not have made that satisfaction that Christ hath made Give us the witness of thy spirit and thy Love and we will say we have enough give us hearts of flesh crush the head of the serpent in our souls O Lord Christ thou camest into the world to destroy the works of the Devil in our hearts and to build up the Kingdom of the spirit in us Oh when shall we see the old man decay in us and the new man to live more and more O be wisdom to guide us and Righteousness to cleanse us from guilt and redemption to deliver us from the wages of sin let us be nothing in our selves that we may be all in thee our saviour Oh honour us so far that we may honour thee VVe pray thee strengthen our weak saith quiet our consciences we would not live a day longer than that we may honour thee tread Satan under our feet fit us for our places and imployments let not our conditions be so low but that our hearts may be lower we are posting to death Oh let sin die before we die let us know our names are written in the Book of Life before thou take away our life Look upon thy servant our dread Sovereign Charls of Great Britââân France and Ireland King oh inrich his Royal heart with all those saving graces of thy Spirit in order unto a wise and happy Government of these Kingdoms Look upon his Royal Consort his Royal relations the Lords of his Privy Council and make them blessings to this Nation oh sanctifie thy good word oh give thy gracious assistance to us both in speaking and hearing let us hear it as that word by which we must be judged that we may be convinced by it and say it is the power of God to salvation to every soul of us Let our meeting be for the better to all of us that we may be built up in the most holy Faith and let us know we have not sought thy face in vain for Jesus Christ his sake our dear Saviour for whom we bless thy Majesty to whom with thee and thy Spirit be praise for ever Amen Mr. Jenkin's Prayer at Christ Church MOst blessed and holy Lord God thou art infinitely beyond our apprehensions who wast infinitely happy before the worâd was made and wantest none of thy creatures nor their services to make thee more excellent than thou art in thy self we daily want thee thou never wantest us thou art pleased to make use of ordinances Ministers Sabbaths as thy Institutions to accomplish and bring about the great work of thy Glory and mans Salvation yet Lord thou dost not need them thy Spirit is not made efficatious by these things but it is that that makes these things efficatious though thou art pleased to tie us to them when we may have them and duly enjoy them yet thou dost not tie thy self to them We desire in these our addresses to eye the happiness of Saints that depends upon him that depends upon none we are here in thy presence by thy goodness and grace O whither should we go but to thee and how should we come but by thee Oh strengthen our faith kill our corruptions inflame our love give us assurance of thy love to our souls oh that God would teach us how to pray that we may taste and see how good the Lord is this day that our souls may be filled as with marrow that we may by our own experience be able to say It is good for us to draw nigh to God and that a day in his house is better then a thousand elsewhere that there may be a communion between us and God let there be a disunion between us and sin we confesse we brought sin enough into the world with us to cause thee to with-drawâth blessed self from us and to cast such unproffitable servants as we are into utter darkness we have been a long time in thy school and yet how dull are we we might have been teachers of others but we need our selves be taught which are the first Principles of the oracles of God we love less than we know and we do less than we love we have neither done that good nor received that good which we should or might have done and received We have been trees that have cumbred the ground in thy orchard but we have brought forth no fruit Wo unto us that we have not known the day of our visitation many of us have one foot in the grave and yet we have lived without God in the world we are wise in every thing but in our own Salvation we live as if Hell were a priviledge those of us that have some knowledg of thee have great cause to repent that we have walked so unworthily of God Which of us pray continually and fervently or live the life of saith we confess we neither take our afflictions humbly nor our mercies thankfully nor want our comforts contentedly nor fill up our relations fruitfully We live as if Hell were a scare-crow as if all the threatnings of thy word were an empty noise as if there were neither sweetness in Heaven nor bitterness in Hell When we come into thy presence where are our hearts what earthly dispositions do we bring along with us the sins of our Prayers cry louder then the Supplications of our prayers what hypocrisie and formality cleaves unto us If thou dost not look upon the iniquities of our holy things with an eye of pitty what will become of us O Lord be pleased to smell a sweet savour of rest and peace through thy dear Son O Lord it is only his precious Blood that can sprinkle our hearts and quiet our Consciences and no other thing We do renounce our own Works and we cry out in our selves Undone undone It is through thy beloved Son that we are accepted and therefore to that end bring us to him by a saving operation on thy part
of thy Spirit and all for Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to him with thee and thy holy Spirit be Praise and Glory for evermore Dr. Anesley 's Prayer at Giles-Cripplegate HOly and great God of Heaven and Earth suâh his the condescention of thy Grace that thou art pleased to manifest thy special presence to thy poor creatures though thou hatest sin with a perfect hatred yet thou lovest sinners with an infinite Love though thou art of purer eyes than to behold iniquity yet thou art pleased to manifest thy Love to sinners that approach to thy service O Lord when shall we admire enough thy Grace and Love how thou art pleased to communicate thy self to a poor man Dear Father raise and fix our hearts help us to mind the business that we come about and to deal very faithfully with our own souls in the matters of eternal moment Oh that we could pray so that our prayers through grace might be returned upon us with a blessing O that we could wait upon thee to hear thy Word as the Oracles of God let us hear what Christ will discover to us for our spiritual benefit Lord grant that our souls may know what it is to be in the Spirit in the Lords day Dear Father thou canst deal with such hearts as ours for the curing of them we pray thee do it we must needs acknowledg hadst not thou laid help upon one that is mighty that is able to save to the uttermost we must have perished to all eternity for we do not know any upon the earth more vile then our selves The very agravations of our sins to render us monstrously abominable the means of grace we have afforded us the stirrings of thy spirit in us the patience and goodness of God towards us makes it a wonder that our hearts do remain so blockish But dear Lord we do find by experience that our immortal souls are much debased all the faculties of our souls are out of tune our understandings are so dark our conceptions of God are so low our consciences are so benum'd that the stirrings of them are scarce discerned or perceived our affections are spent upon the creature that we cannot gather them up again our wills are perverse our memories are apt to retain the dross and let out all that is good we pray thee for Christs sake make an experiment upon our souls what thou canst do what sinners Christ can save what corruptions the spirit of God can subdue in our souls teach all our hearts do not stand behind the wall and look through the latice do so much as may leave us without excuse but good Lord put thy hand in at the hole of the door and let thy fingers drop honey upon the handle of the Lock And oh set open these everlasting Doors that the King of glory may enter in Subdue us intirely to thy self do not ask our wills whether we be willing or no but make us willing do not ask us what we would have but give us what thou knowst is good for us Dear Lord we pray thee deliver us from sin according to thy hatred of it and pour out thy grace upon us according to thy love of grace that our souls may be refreshed that we may find thy thoughts are above ours as high as heaven is above the earth Dear Father it is thy promise that those that wait upon thee shall renew their strengths we have no might the Devil bastles us our own hearts are treacherous to us The world intices us to sin against God oh deliver us from all these enemies especially from the plagues of our own hearts that we may perfect holiness in the fear of God give us spiritual blessings whatsoever thou givest us or whatsoever thou deniest us thou knowest thou art rather willing to give us spiritual blessings than any other mercies and we want spiritual mercies most Oh oh give us spiritual Mercies that we may say This is the way of God in his Sanctuary Where grace is not wrought work it where it is begun increase it Dear father convince those that are not yet convinced Make thy word a quickning word an ingrafted word to the saving of our souls help us to hear as for our lives as those that long after God Hear Prayers for the King bless him in his Royal Relations and grant under him we may live a quiet life in all godliness and honesty Bless the Magistrates and help them to remember that causes one day must be heard over again Help thy Ministers to keep close to thee in ways that are well pleasing Be with us at this time Lord assist the meanest of thy servants let our souls now find that thou dost magnifie thy word above all thy Name do us good receive us quicken us that we may live in heaven upon earth that we may know what it is to be filled with the fulness of God and know the heighth breadth depth and length of thy love that passeth knowledg Communicate thy self to us as thou usest to do to thy people let us feel thy presence let us not think of any thing but the business we are about let us with singleness of heart set our selves to mind thâ concernment of our immortal souls and all we beg for Christ his sake who hath taught us thus to pray Our Father c. Dr. Bates his Prayer at Dunstans in the West O Lord thou art a most holy high God the Glorious Angels when they stand before thee cover their faces yet they dâd never violate thy Laws and if they how much more need have we to do it We are sinful dust and ashes our solemn Services are sin We desire to approach thy presence and to have an eye to thy glory in all our services and addresses We beseech thee give us a serious and a deep sense of our own hearts and vile affections that we may cast our selves down at thy feet with all humility We have infinite reason to be abased in our selves our God help us We came into the world with sin and as soon as we did breath in the air we infected it there is an infection and pollution in all our faculties what coldness is there in our affections and what unbelief in our faith and our wills do stand apopsite against thy holy nature VVe confess we have had ten thousand experiences of those corruptions that are within us for our while lives are full of provocations against God How many vain thoughts and how many rebellious actions Blessed Father we confess we are out of measure sinful we have sinned against the clearest convictions of thy word and the tender compassions of thy Gospel against the most severe promises we have made of our service to God against the checks of our own Consciences we confess the sins of the Heathens who live without God in the world are small in comparison of ours and we fear therefore a greater degree
of wrath will fall upon us O Lord how many ways hast thou used to reclaim us what Arts hath thy blessed Spirit used how many times hast thou approached to our souls and shewed us something of thy glory and the glory of heaven and the terrours of hâll the one to allure us and the other to scare us But Oh! how many times have we grieved thy blessed Spirit who came to seal us and despised thy Son who came from heaven to earth and liv'd a sorrowful life and died a shameful death how often hath he offered us grace and glory if we would how to his Scepter but we have preferred a base lust before that excellency that he hath purchased us Oh how often hast thou condescended so far as to intreat us to be reconciled how easie hast thou been to forgive and how hard have we been to be forgiven VVe confess thou mighâest pass an eternal Doom upon us for we are sensible of the dishonour that we have brought upon thy Name Do thou at this time strike upon all these rocks that are in thy presence at this time give us hearts of flesh let our repentance pâeprare us for corversion let there be such a through conviction that thy grace and Mercy may be admirable in our eyes VVe intreat thee hear us pardon all our iniquities let us be monuments of thy grace and favour speak peace to our Consciences convey those clear evis dences of thâââve unto us that may inable us to scatter all our fâaâs that we may rejoice in God and have hope of glory Let the image of thy Son be engraven on all our hearts and let our souls be made subject to him while we are in the world preserve us from the evil of it If thou givest us out ward happiness give us withat inward holiness and if we do suffer help us with patience to bear all knowing we are in our journey and our passage to a better life and let our whole time be spent in a serious Preparation to appear before thy Tribunal and let us consider the unchangableness of that state hereafter Remember thy whole Church make the Name of Christ glorious in the world shed abroâd thy light and thy truth heavour back-slidings and love us freely Let thine Ordânances continue among us and let thy blessing descend upon our sovereign Lord the King of England Scot and France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Incline his heart to thy Law make him an instrument of publick good protect his person and give him prosperous affairs Bless his Royal Consort his Relations his privy Counsel let them promote solid Piety and real Godliness Bless the Minister of thy Word and Sacraments Let their labours be precious in thy sight and remember all afflicted ones revive thy Mourners and let thy grace answer all their fears Let thy presence be in the midst of us and help us to hear as our last and let us be raised nearer heaven and make thy word powerful and effectual to all our souls and let thy word subdue our lusts and aâl we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose Name and words we sum up our imperfect Prayers Our Father which art in Heaven c. Dr. Jacomb's Prayer at Martins Ludgate BLessed God thou art a God blessed for ever thou givest Mercy to all returning and repenting sinners thou art worthy to be praised by all that draw nigh unto thee Thou hast vouchsafed to us one Sabbath more Oh that we might all of us be in the spirit upon the Lords day that whatever we do we may do it in the strength of God that we may offer spiritual Sacrifices to God this day through our Mediator the Lord Jesus It is a very great condescention that thou shouldst suffer such as we are to come unto thee O Lord we are unclean we are unclean from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot we are overspread with the leprosie of sin all the faculties of our souls are defiled our understandings are darkened our wills are corrupted we have affections but they are carnal we have hearts but they are impure we have consciences but they are seared and as our inward man so our lives are unholy as the fountain is so is the stream besides that our general guilt that we brought into the world we are guilty of innumerable actual transgressions against thy holy Law We think O Lord there are no greater sinners in the world than we our sins are attended with many aggravations We have finned against Prayers against vows and promises we have had as much light shining before us as any in the world have had great is our unbelief Oh that we could lay these things to our hearts We do refuse to come to Christ we go about to establish a righteousness of our own and neglect the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ how are our hearts glewed to the present things of this world Oh! what do we do for thy glory How unreformed are we under all the ways of God that he hath taken to make us a holy people Give us a sight of our sins O Lord we confess sometimes we do make a formal confession but we do not find our hearts melted for sin as they should Oh take away from every one of us this heart of stone give a heart of flesh give us tender hearts make us sensible of all our departing from thee Oh let us look upon him whom we have pierced let us mourn that the Water of penitential sorrow may flow from us we are strangers to our selves we do not see what a hell there is in our nature Oh! how should we put our mouths in the dust and loath our selves if so be there might be hope O Lord convince us of sin give us such a sight of sin as may make us flie to thee give us such a sight of our own guilt that maââ prepare us for the Grace of Godâ now we are sâung with the fiery Serpents help us to come to Jesus Christ our brazen Serpent give us the holy Spirit to bring us out of the state of nature to let that God that made us Creatures make us new Creatures O Lord we are thine own work but we are dead in trespasses and sins give us grace and speak a word to them that are dead put out thine Almighty Power and draw some sinner to Christ this day and those that have any breathings after thee Oh! thou that gavest them that desire carry on thine own work in them where thou hast begun a good work carry it on let sin as the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker and grace as the house of David grow stronger and stronger Oh! increase our faith O Lord at this time we do not onely stand in need of grace but of a great measure of grace Oh! help us by faith to relie upon God that thou mayest help us at last Bless
by the light of the Candle slighted thy Manna so long Oh now therefore to day give us to hear and know and believe and do the things that concern our everlasting peace Hear us for Christ his sake to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be glory now and for ever The Prayer of Mr. Caryl at Magnes Bridge foot OH our Father what a priviledge is this that we may draw near to thee all our springs are in thee the Creature is but a dry heap a barren wilderness 't is but a Cistern and a broken Cistern It hath no water of its own nor can it hold that which is poured into it Oh that our hearts were taken off and dis-engaged from all things on this side thy self that we could say with thy Servant Whom have we in heaven but thee and on earth there is none that we desire in comparison of thee Then though our flesh and hearts fail us yet God would be our portion for ever VVe pray thee manifest thy Grace to us at all time and especially at this time that we may come before God in this publick worship as we should Let us see thy goings out in thy Sanctury and let us be satisfied with the fatness of thy house and drink of those pleasures that are for evermore Lord we have given thee cause to withdraw from us for we have not laboured to be fruitful under means and therefore thou in judgement mightest make them hereafter to be fruitless unto us and because we have taken no pains to get good by them thou mightest justly say they shall do you no good VVe have heard much of thee but we know thee but little we acknowledge thou mightest judge us because we know so little and thou mightest punish us because we do so little of what we know according as that faithless Servant was punished which knew his Masters will ând did it not Oh where be those manifestations of God that we have had Have we had not the light of the knowledge of God shining to us in the face of Jesus Christ But we have not rejoyced in this light but have compassed our selves about with sparks of our own kindling and therefore it is just we should down in sorrow and yet thou lengthenest out thy patience to us and yet we have one opportunity more to come unto thee Oh we pray thee let us understand the things belonging to our peace before they be hid from our eyes let our souls be bound in the bundle of life with Christ Jesus We pray thee that that Spirit of thine may strengthen us that the Spirit may guide us and lead us into all truth leave us not to our own strength nor to our own councel but shew us the secrets of thy Word and Works Thou hast promised Thy secret shall be with them that fear thee and thou wilt shew them thy cevenant And as thou dost give us thy Sabbaths so give us to thrive by them and help us to grow as the Herb and sent forth our fruit as Lebanon Let thy Word come with power one every one of us that it may not be as the beating of the air but let it fit us for Duty that we may honor our God in the midst of these changes until we come to that place where there is no change and all for the sake of our dear Lord Jesus to whom with Thee and the blessed Spirit be Glory and Honour now and for ever Mr. Venning's Prayer at Olaves before Sermon OH Lord God thou art the Fountain of Life yea thou givest to all Life It is necessity draws us now unto thee and we acknowledge it is a very great favour that thou wilt admit us to come into thy presence Indeed the services we do are not worthy thy acceptance thou gettest nothing by them but the gain of godliness is to our selves But wo unto us what a loss and what a curse will ât be to us to haâe a form of Godliness and yet be ungodly Oh Lord how should this indear thee and thy word and thy service that thou wouldst have us do good for our own sakes thou turnest our obedience into priviledges thou hast made the means of our happiness a part of it If there were no other glory but to glorifie thee oh what a glory would it be to be found doing thy will there is a sweetness to be found in it more than in the Honey or in the Honey comes It is a great happiness to be conformable to God to be loving to God to be like to God is the greatest happiness that we can be capable of if we were now in heaven we could not have other happiness but this in a greater degree O Lord how should our souls be drawn forth to acknowledge thee may we not cry out in admiration Lord what is man and among the sons of men what are we that thou art so mindful of us Thou mightest have displayed thy VVord to many thousands in the world and we left ignorant But blessed be thy Name thou art pleased to admit eâen us also thereunto Oh let it not be a small thing unto us seeing we may yet live to serve God Oh Lord in Christ it will be worth our while to live and in him 't will be worth our while to die Oh that we may mind the end of living and the end of dying that whether we live or die we may be the Lords Indeed it were not worth our while to live and spend so much time in the world if it were only to have pleasure and honour and gratifie our selves to eat and drink and to be merry this is not worth our while What would it be O Lord to die in our sin and be eased of the miseries of this world and be sent to the place of torment But seeing thou hast provided for our living and our dying well give us to improve these means and that we may live and dye well let not our affections though our bodies be upon the earth though we converse with flesh yet let not our conversation be after the flesh but let us be like them which have sent their hearts up to heaven and do but tarry here to finish their Masters business and then we shall go where our hearts are and where our dear Lord Jesus Christ is Indeed Lord we have cause to complain of our hearts how we minde this world as it never would have an end and the world to come as if it would never have any beginning as if we had no souls to mind or had no mind to look to our souls We live as if all those glorious Reports thou hast made were but as a tale that is told we have cause to be ashamed that we have the means and the names of Christians and have not lived answerable to the discovery of the Lord Jesus Christ Indeed we have cause to bear our shame yet how few of us know what
VVhat it is to keep his way First To wait on the Lord is taken more largely or more strictly 1. More largely And so it is the same with serving the Lord attending and following the Lord and takes in the whole duty of the Saints waiting on the Lord as a Soldier on his Captain or as a servant on his Master Psal 123.2 Behold as the eyes of the Servants look to the hands of their Masters and as the eyes of a Maiden unto the hand of her Mistress so our eyes wait on the Lord our God So in that Hos 12 6. Turn thou to thy God and keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually 2. More strictly And so it intends a patient expecting the Lords Salvation 'T is the continual exercise of Faith and Hope It is Faith and Hope eekt out so here Vers 7. Rest on the Lord wait patiently So Psal 130. when he cries out of the depths as he says v. 1. then v 5 I want for the Lord my soul doth wait and in his words do I hope My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning I say more then they that watch for the morning We have both these together in that Lam 3.25 26. The Lord is good to them that wait for Him to the the soul that seeketh Him There it is taken as largely as seeking after God but it followes It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord there it is taken for the continued exercise of hope for a patiânâ expectation of the Lords Salvation Secondly What it is to keep the Way of the Lord here mind The way of the Lord may be understood of that way wherein he walketh towards his People which is aptly stiled the way of his Providence or in that way wherein he requires his People to walk towards him and is properly stiled the VVay of his Precepts 1. âvere is the way of Gods Providence in which he walketh towards us of which that Psal 18.30 speaketh As for God his VVay is perfect So Psal 25.10 All the Paths and VVaies of the Lord are Mercy and Truth unto such as keep his Covenant and Testimonies Now if it be thus taken here Then to keep his VVay is diligently to attend his Hand and to observe his Carriage and ordering in all that befals his People more especially in all that trouble that comes on them For whatever trouble comes upon the People of God and whoever be the instruments of inflicting the Lord hath his way in it Mit. 6.9 ordering it as to the kind as to the measure as to the season as to the continuance and as to the ends and fruits Now to observe the Lord's Hand and to attend his VVay in ordering his Providences and our troubles this is to keep his VVay So Isa 26.8 In the way of thy Jugements we have waited for thee as if he had said VVe have waited on the Lord and kept his VVay 2. There is the way of God's Presepts in which he commandeth his People to walk And thus is this phrase most commonly taken So 2 Kings 21.21 where it is said of Amon He forsook the Lord God of his Fathers and walked not in the VVay of the Lord i. e. not in the VVay of his Commandments Thus David spake of the way of his Precepts in Psal 119 27. Make me understand the Way of thy Prââpts And if it be taken thus then to keep the VVay of the Lord is to walk in his Statutes and to observe his Commandments to do them So Gen. 18.19 the Lord testifies of Abraham I know him thet he will command his Children and his houshold after him annd they shall keep the VVay of the Lord to do Justice and Judgement So in Job 23.11 13. My feet have held his steps his VVay have I kept and not declined neither have I gone back from the Commadments of his lips So to walk in his VVays and to keep his Commandments are the same Deut. 26.17 and Psal 119 1 2. So that the sum of all is However it be with the truly Godly more especially when the wicked do wateh them to do them a mischeif their best way is to attend on the Lord to follow him to walk on in the ways of his Commandements so eying the hand of the Lord in all that befals them as that they patiently expect and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. Thus for Explication I now come to the Demonstration which shall be dispacht by clearing That it is the honestest the wisest the safest the most comfortable and most honourable Way First This is the most innocent just and honest Way yea truly this is the only good honest and right Way I am to shew what is the best for a Godly man to whom no way is good but what is just and honest There are indeed other ways which a man may take when he is in trouble through the wickeds watching him to do him a mischief whereby to escape the mischief intended him but they are not just and honest I shall instance in these 1. By sinfully complying with the wicked in their ungodly ways thereby to abate the edge of their wrath This was the way Peter took when in the High Priests Hall he not only denyes his Master but backs his denial with an Oath yea being among a cursing crew that should seem would not believe him else he falls a cursing and swearing that he knew not the man Mat. 26.74 2. By sinful shifting or shuffling through Lyes or deceitfull Equivocations to avoid the mischief intended This was the way that Abraham took to escape the mischief that he thought at one time the Men of Gerar might do him Gen. 20. and that the Egyptians might do to him at another time for his wives sake wherein though Abraham did not tell a down-right untruth as he excuseth the matter to Aebimelech yet he did sinfully shufflâ in making use of a deceitful Equivocation for his safety 3. By angerly and revengfully rendering Evil for Evil thereby thiâking to pay the wicked in their own Coyn and to avenge a mans own quarrel This was the course that David was about to take against Naâal had he not been prevented by Abigals wisdom 1 Sam 25.33 4. By basely deserting the Place that the Lord hath put a man in and requires him to abide in This was that which Shemaiah would have pât Nehemiah upon but he refused to hearken to him in Nehem. 6.10 11. not but that a man forsake his place not only of habitation but also of publick station and employment in some cases when that the Lord calls him off but this is of no base deserting Base deserting is when out of cowardliness and base fear a man withdrawes himself from his place in which and at that time when the Lord requires him to abide that he may provide for his own safety This
was the way Moses would have taken when the Lord was sending him to deliver his People had the Lord left him to himself as you may see at large in the third and forth chapters of the Book of Exodus 5. By rebelliously and traiterously slepping out of the place that God hath set a man in This was that way they tempted David unto in 1 Sam. 24.4 and which Abshai would have taken had not David hindered him 1 Sam. 26.9 Now none of these waies are just and honest being all of them contrary to the Command and a departing from God to the Creature as I shall clear particularly First That sinfully to comply with the wicked to abate the edge of their wrath is contrary to the Command is clear from these Scriptures Ephes 5.7 Be ye not therefore pantakers with them that is with the wicked with the Children of disobedience Now one way of partaking with them is by sinful compliance hence vers 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkness have you no hand do not you bear a part be not drawn in to comply in these things To this purpose is that Rom. 12.2 Be not conformed to this VVorld Nonconformity to this world is a Christians duty Secondly That sinfully to shift and shuffle through Lyes and deceitful Equivocations to provide for ones safety is contrarie to the Command of God clear is that Gen. 20 9. where Abimelech reproving Abraham for his practise tells him Thou hast done things to me that ought not to be done Thirdly That to render evil for evil and to avenge our selves is against the Command of God clear is that Prov. 20 21. Say not thou I will recompence evil but wait on the Lord and he shall save the. 1. Thess 5.15 See that none render evil for evil to any man Rom. 12.17 Recompence to no man evil for evil and 19. Dearly beloved avenge not your selves Fourthly That basely to desert the place that God hath put a man in is against the Command of God clear is that 1 Cor. 7.24 ârethrin let everyone wherein he is called therein abide with God and as in the condition wherein so in the place whereunto till God remove him Fifthly That rebelliously to step out of a mans place is against the Command of God is clear from Eccles 10.4 If the spirit of thy Ruler rise up against thee leave not thy place for yeelding pacifieth great offence Subjects are here directed how to carry themselves when that the spirit of the Ruler rises up against themselve counsel that the Spirit here gives is That they keep their place not in a way of rebellious opposition but in way of yeelding subjection leave not thy place as a subject containe thy self within the bounds of thine own calling and condition bridling all disloyal passion and forbearing all unlawfull attempts toward off the wrath of the Ruler he speaketh not against a prudent withdrawing from a storm as David from Saul Elias from Ahab and Christ frm Herod but against a disloyal and rebellious defection as Israel to their Tâms 1 Kings 12 16. So that whatever the provocations be that the Rulers give Subjects must submit themselves by yeelding active obedience in a I things which they command according to God and by patiently enduring what they inflict on us though for righteousness sake keeping our selves in the same humble obedient and loyal temper what ever provocations we meet with to the contrary And that in all these waies there is a departing from God the Creature arising from a distrust of his All sufficiency to provide for us in his way and from a conceit of our own wisdom to provide beâter for our safety is most manifest therefore these wayes being contrary to the Comand of God and injurious to his All-sufficiency are not just and honest but to wait on the Lord and to keep his way this is the good the right and the honest Way See 1 Sam. 12.23 where he tells them that He will shew them the goood and right Way and what that is he acquaints in the nxt verse Only fear the Lord and serve him in Truth with all your heart which is to the same purpose with wait on the Lord and keep his way that is the honest and good Way in which the Lord commandeth his People to walk 2 Chron. 6.27 His Commandments being holy just and good Rom. 7.12 The way of his Comandments must needs be good just and honest and his Cammandments being the Rule the goodness of a way lyes in its conformity thereunto and this is the way that is agreeable to the Command of God as in the Text. 2 This is the wisest way When a man hath many wise subtile and powerful enemies watching to mischieve him he had need behave himself wisely Hence when our Saviour sends forth his Disciples as Sheep among Wolves Mat. 10.26 he says to them Be wise as Serpents and innocent as Doves he adviseth them to the wisest as well as the honestest way Now however carnall men do think some one of the forementioned wayes to be the wiset yet it will be apparent that to wait on he Lord and keep his Way is the wisest course by these two arguments First It is the Way which the truest and highest Wisdom the Wisdom of God doth direct unto so here in the Text So in that Psal 27.14 he complains of his enemies and of false witnesses that were risen up against him that did breath out cruelty vers 12. and then by the Spirit he commends to himself and others suitable advice in such a case vers 14. Wait on the Lord. So Exod. 14.13 there Pharoah and all his Hosts are at the heels of the poor Israelites and he counts of nothing but of destroying them Exod. 15.9 and they for their parts knew not how to escape Now sayes Moses to them Fear ye not stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. So that whatever distress the People of God are in this is the way the Wisdom of God directs unto for what the word of God in the Scripture directs to that the Wisdom of God directs as is clear from that Luke 11.49 2dly This is the way that the wisest men have taken David was a wise Man we read of him 1 Sam. 18.30 that David behaved himself more wisely then all the Servants of Saul so that his name was much set by Now this was the way that he took as you have him speaking in that Psal 18.21 I have kept the wayes of the Lord and not wickedly departed from my God for all thy judgements were before me and I did not put away his statutes from me c. So Psal 119 110. The wicked have laid a snare for me yet I erred not from thy precepts Daniel was a wise man hence that Proverb Ezeck 28.3 Wisen than Danirl and he took this course when that his Enemies had laid a snare for him to take away his Life
wicked watcheth to mischief you when the wicked even your Enemies and Foes come upon you to eat up your flesh as sal 27 2. then to wait on the Lord to stand your ground to follow the Lord to keep his way This is an argument of a brave and gallant Spirit Was it not a proof of a heroick and brave Spirit in Paul when he saies to them Act. 21 13. What mean you to weep and to break my heart for I am ready not to be bound only but to dye a Jerusalem for the Nâme of the Lord Jesus VVhen men are bold and daring in a wicked way and will resolutely keep on whatever difficulties or opposition they meet with this is not true valour but a mad hardiness and desperate stoutness of spirit But when men are couâarious and undaunted in following the Lord stedfastly keeping and walking on in his way maugre all opposition that Satan and wicked Men make against them this is true valour and galantry of Spirit Such brave and heroick Spirits were they mentioned Heb. 11 35 36 37. who have this honourable Testimonial of the Lord vers 38 of whom the World was not worthy Persons whereof every one was more worth than the VVorld or too excellent to abide in the VVorld being worthy of better and greater honour than the world could give them 4. 'T is the way by which you shall most victoriously triumph over all your enemies wait on the Lord and keep his way and you shall go on conquering and to conquer over Sin Satan the VVorld and Antichrist over all our enemies Though God you shal do valiantly for he it is that shall tread down all your enemies Psal 108.13 For this is the victory that overcommeth the world even your Faith 1 John 5.4 Through Faith whereby we wait on God and keep his Way we shall overcome the world that is Satan and all his wicked crew with all the instruments of mischief they make use of against us Hence that Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us and this honour have all they that wait on the Lord and keep his Way 3 'T is the way by which you shall bring most honour to God to the Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of your Salvation That the people of God are imployed in service whereby God is honoured that reflects hunour upon them and the more God is honoured the more honour have they that serve him the Queen of Sheba counted Solomon's servants happy who waited continually upon him 1 King 10.8 how much more honourable is it to wait on the Lord in that a greater than Solomon is here Now wait on the Lord and keep his way herein you will greatly honour the Lord. As they that dissert and forsake the Lord and his waies when it comes to any hard service do greatly dishonour him as if there were not enough to be had to make amends for all their hardships they endure so they that follow the Lord and heep his way through sharp oppositions and sufferings they greatly honour him in the world to cleave to the Lord and follow him when all the world are about out ears for his sake to keep his Way when that his Way is every where spoken against to continue faithful in his service when nothing but bonds and persecutions attend us for it this commends his Service and tendeth much to the honour of his Name and Wayes 4. This is the ready way to true Honour As the wise man hath it in that Prov. 27.18 He that waiteth on his Master shall be honoured So wait on the Lord and keep his Way and you shall be honoured and that with true Honour even that honour that is of God In that John 5.44 our Saviour distinguisheth between that honour that is of men and that Honour that is of God and that is the the true Honour that is of God For as they say Honor est in honorante non in honorate in him that honoureth and then that is true and highest honor that is from the only true God that high and only One. Now this honour have all they that waiting on the Lord and keeping his Way do honour 1 Samuel 2 3â Him that honoureth me I will honour and sayes our Saviour John 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall my servant be and what honour that is you may gather from that Col 3.4 and it further followes If any man serve me him will my Father honour Thus it appears to be the most honourable way 5. Lastly This is the most comfortable way It must be granted 't is a way that is attended with sufferings tribulations and distresses 2 Tim. 3.12 and yet it is the most comfortable way as will appear In that 1. It is the ready way to have peace inward peace the best peace in the midst of all the trouble the world can bring upon you in that Joh. 16.33 the Lord Jesus saith to his Disciples that in the world they should have tribulation but in him they should have peace And to wait on the Lord and keep his Way is the ready way to attain his Peace as appears from Isa 26.3 Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee That which rendered perfect peace iâ Peace Peace in the Original the reduplication according to the Idiome of the Hebrew denoting the excellency perfection abundance and duration of Peace But to whom is this promise made saith the text to him whose mind is stayed on the Lord and trusteth in him and in verse 2. to the righteous Nation which keepeth the Truth which according to the point in hand may be exprest to them that wait on the Lord and keep his Way So Psal 119.165 Great Peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them 2. 'T is the ready way to have the holy Ghost who is stiled the Comforter to abide with us What more comfortable way than that wherein we may be sure to have the Comforter to be with us to abide and continue with us Wait on the Lord and keep his Way so shall the Comforter abide with you for ever Express is that of our Lord to this purpose John 14 15.16 If you love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever So ver 23 If any man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come and make our abode with him So that this is the way to have Father Son and holy Ghost to come to us and abide with us 3. The Comforts which are to be had in this way are true solid substantial and abiding Comforts such as fill the soul with inward joy and mirth under the forest outward trouble so as that they can sing in prison
abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lye even as it hath been taught you ye shall abide in him Though they corrupt and pervert this Text that make use of it to the disannulling of all Ministerial teaching for if John had meant so to what purpose did he write this Epistle yet when God depriveth us of this help this Scripture affords support and comfort to the Saints that by the Spirit in them they shall be enabled to understand what he teacheth in the Word so as to abide in the Lord and in his Way as they have been taught Having then the Spirit for your principle and guide let the Word be your Rule and you shall keep the Way of the Lord according to that promise Isaiah 35.8 The wayfaring-men though fools shall not erre therein 3. Let the example of Christ be your pattern that you may keep the Way of the Lord set this Copy alwayes before you He always kept the Way of the Lord as he came down from Heaven to do the Will of his Father John 6.38 so he did alwayes those things that did please him John 8.29 He never departed in the least from the Way of the Lord He knew nâ sin neither was guile found in his mouth If then you would keep the Way of the Lord learn of him follow him walk even as he walked Indeed in the things that are proper to Christ as God or as Mediator therein he is not to be imitated by us but in the things that he did or suffered as man he left us an example or pattern that we should follow his steps 2 Pet. 2.21 Hence that Exhortation of his Mat. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meâk and lowly in heart That then you may be directed as well as encouraged to keep the Way of the Lord look to Jesus and walk as you have him for an example Indeed the Apostle exhorts to walk as you have him for an example Phil. 3.17 But knowing that he could give you but an imperfect Copy he exhorts in that 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ It may be of good use to us to minde the examples of the Apostles and faithful Ministers of the Gospel that have walkt on in the Way of the Lord before us But forasmuch as there in none of them even Peter himself but went awry more or less therefore make the example of Christ your pattern Time will not permit to prosecute this at large I shall only offer some few particulars from the example of Christ to you such as may be most seasonable to further you in keeping the Way of the Lord. 1. It was the work and business of the Lord Jesus Christ to do the Will of his Father to do what pleased him As he came down from Heaven to do his Father's Will as you before heard from John 6.68 so he made it his work and business To this purpose is that Luke 2.49 How is it that ye sought me wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business with that John 4.34 Jesus saith unto them My meat is to do the Will of him that sent me and to finish his work If then you will keep the Way of the Lord herein be ye followers of Christ let it be your work and business to do the Will of the Lord and to walk in all well-pleasing before him Let the Exhortation be in the words of the Apostle 1 Thes 4.1 Furthermore then we beseech you Brethren and exhort you That as you have received of us how you ought to walk and please God so ye would abound more and more 1. It was the practice of the Lord Jesus Christ to look on all the sufferings that came upon him as coming from the hand of his Father in accomplishment of his Word and therefore quietly to submit to them To this purpose is it that he tells Pilate in John 19.11 Thou couldst have no power at all against me except it were given thee from above He looks beyond Pilate to him that was above So John 18.11 The Cup which my Father hath given me shall I not drink it He overlooks the instruments and looks on his sufferings as a Cup put into his hand by his Father And as he observed the hand of his Father in the sufferings that came upon him so he takes notice that they are in accomplishment of Scripture Mat. 26.53 54. Thinkest thou that I could not now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve Legions of Angels but how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be and he takes notice that the Scripture had foretold that thus it must be and that he must suffer and enter into glory as he clears iâ in that of Luke 24.25 26. Therefore though he prayed if it be possible as Matthew hath it and if thou be willing let this Cup pass from me as Luke hath it yet he quietly submits to his Father's Will with a Not my will but thine be done And as Mat. 26.42 If this Cup may not pass away except I drink it let thy will be done Thus you see how by looking to the Fathers hand he willingly submits to what sufferings came upon him That you may keep the Way of the Lord in the midst of all the sufferings you are like to meet with herein following the Lord Jesus Christ eying the hand of your gracious Father in all the sufferings that come upon you of what nature soever and by whomsoever inflicted and what ever may be the ends of those by whom you suffer yet that they are all ordered by him in accomplishment of his Word Do ye not believe this I know that ye do believe it by Faith therefore improve it for the quieting of your hearts in all your sufferings This is that the Apostle presseth the Saints unto in the 12th of the Hebrews where he taketh for granted that all kind of sufferings more especially such as come upon us by the contradiction of sinners are fatherly corrections from the Lord and so in accomplishment of the Word of God according unto that Psal 89.30 31. and therefore humbly to be submitted to so Heb. 12.9 10. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live for they verily for a few days chastened as after their pleasure but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Seeing therefore whatsoever befalls you in the way of the Lord is by your Father's ordering in accomplishment of his Word for your profit that ye may be partakers of his Holiness submit your selves to him eye your Fathers hand and end and be quiet 3. It was the practice of Jesus Christ in his state