THE SON OF GOD Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God IN NINE SERMONS Upon DAN III. XXV BY That Precious and Holy Man Mr TIMOTHY ARMITAGE Late Pastor of a Congregation gathered in the City of Norwich Unto which is added another SERMON Preached by him upon Eccles 9. 10. At the Entrance of one of the Mayors there into his Office LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Henry Cripps and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-Head-Alley near Lumbard-Street 1656. To the Reader THe Prophets do they live for ever as the holy Prophet Zechariah asks the Question wherein he also implies the Answer Surely they do not live for ever which dayly experience doth bear witness unto For we see that wise and good men dye as well as the foolish and bruitish person And 't is no small Mercy unto them what ever it be to those who remain that they may rest from their Labours yet were it not great pity that all their precious Labors should dye and be buried in the dust together with themselves Now although that gracious and sweet-Spirited Man Mr. Timothy Armitage the late Pastor to a Congregation gathered in the City of Norwich is now gone to his blessed Rest of whose Death it cannot be said as 't was of that King Jehoram That he departed without being desired for his absence is still very much lamented and not without cause unto this day Yet through the Lords good Providence some of his holy Labors that fell from him being taken up by the careful Hand of a Christian Brother of that Congregation who had the Pen of a ready Writer are here presented to the world as some others also may if the Lord please in time be brought to light whereby such as have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil may easily perceive what a good Treasure there was in the heart of that good man whence such good things both new and old have been brought forth I doubt not but such a sweet savour of a gracious Spirit will so evidently appear all along through the Veins of these Sermons to such as are spiritual and can savour spiritual things as that should I go about to write Letters of Commendation of Him or Them I suppose it might be said to me as the Samaritans sometime spake unto the Woman that perswaded them to come and see the Christ Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this was a most choice and precious Man indeed And seeing it hath been the Lot and Portion of the Saints even in all Ages more or less to meet with manifold exercises and sharp sufferings in one kind or other yea sometimes even with Fiery Tryals and what afflictions may also abide us in these latter Times the Lord only knoweth Therefore I cannot but think that the Subject of these ensuing Sermons viz The walking of the Son of God with his Servants in the midst of the Fire may be very seasonable and comfortable to all the Servants of Christ even in these and the after times What this our Dear and Reverend Brother spake herein was as it seems that which he had the experience of not long before having as I am told but newly come out of the Furnace I mean a most violent hot burning Fever so that there is the more cause to hope that what came from his own heart may through the Blessing of Christ go to the Hearts of others also If any seeming Pleonasms or Redundances or deficiency in any Phrases or words may appear to any herein let them please but to consider that these Sermons are put forth not by the Authors own Notes which as it seems are very hardly to be read but as they were taken from his Mouth in Preaching I shall only crave leave to mention one passage lest possibly any might seem to stumble or be offended at it viz. That about the suppressing of Errors in pag. 118 119. as if he did absolutely deny the exercise of the Magistrates Power in any such matters or in any case whatsoever Whereas if his Expressions be candidly taken as they may viz. That the Sword or Power of the Magistrate is not to be exercised against any Person meerly for the very holding of an Error if no more without any manner of Civil disturbance or circumstances of that Nature for he speaks not at all of any such holding spreading of Errors I know not any that wil or can affirm or maintain the contrary and so take any just offence at the Expression I shall add no more but desire that the Blessing of Christ may accompany these holy Labors 13d. 7m. 56y. THO. ALLEN The Table Shewing several things observable in every particular Sermon in this Book The first Sermon SEven Wonders or seven Miracles discovered in the Text. First That the light of the fire continued and not the heat Page 3 Secondly That their number was not diminished but encreased 4 Thirdly That the fire did burn their bands asunder but did not hurt them ibid. Fourthly These men were seen walking in the midst of the fire ibid. Fiftly That the fire did remain fire and yet not burn them ib. Sixtly That they should be in the midst of the fire and have no hurt 5 Seventhly There was one among them like the Son of God ib. The Observation That the Lord doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his Servants from death 7 What restraints God lays upon the Creatures that he might rescue the lives of his Servants p. 7 8 9 10 The first Ground of the Point 10 How Gods Name is glorified by delivering his Servants 11 12 13 The second Ground of the Point 15 The third Ground of the Point 16 Quest What God requires when he works Mercies for his people 17 1. Take heed that we neither forget the Mercy nor the God of the Mercy ibid. 2. Not look with a slight eye upon great Mercies 19 3. Give nothing to the Creature but all to free grace ibid. 4. Give back again to God what God lends us 20 5. Be willing that we lay down our lives when God calls for them ibid. 6. We should do something extraordinary for God 21 7. Look upon all outward mercies in reference to some spiritual mercy 22 The second Sermon Use 1. To teach that the lives of the Saints are very precious to God p. 28. This is made out in four particulars 30. Use 2. To teach that the souls of the Saints are much more precious to God and therefore our souls should be very precious to us 34 Use 3. To teach us to set an high price upon our lives 37 4. Rules how to prize our lives 39 Use 4. To exhort the Saints to trust God for ever 45 The third Sermon The former Use further pressed and directions given what to trust God for 1. For all the comforts of their lives 52 2. For overcomming the
as the grass You had need live in a continual converse with your fading condition dye daily see death at a distance and grapple with death at a distance Put your selves into a dying condition and say often Oh! what if this were my last What if I were now to breath forth my soul What if now to shoot the Gulf of Eternity What have I now to rely upon What have I to carry me through How shall death be conquered How shall the sting be taken out for me You had need I say converse with death at a distance and live continually in the sence of your dying condition that so death may not be terrible when it comes that you may know before hand how to conquer it and that it is conquered by the blood of the Lamb. Fiftly Another work that you have to do with your might is to do good to your friends and to your Relations Christians give out the good things to your Relations and do it speedily do it with all your might Impart the knowledge of God to your Relations Christ finds Andrew and Andrew finds Simon Peter Christ finds Philip and Philip finds Nathaniel Oh come saith he we have found the Saviour the Messias 1 Joh. 41. 45. You have but a little while to be with your Relations and they are gone they are taken from you and you from them and therefore with all your might work this work and do them good and give out good to your Relations That is the fifth work that you have to do with all your might Sixthly In all your waitings upon God see that you do there with your might I say when ever you wait upon God in every Duty in every Ordinance whensoever you draw nigh to God the Lord requires you should do it with your might In the second of Samuel the 13. it is said there that David when he danced before the Ark he did it with all his might And so in the second of Chron. 28. It is said there that David when he offered unto the Lord he offered with all his might And so that place in 2 King 23. and 25. It is said that King Josiah turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his might what ever you do in the matters of God do it not lazily If you pray do it with your might and if you hear let it not be done but with all your might and if you speak do with your might because these are mighty things and they have relation to the business of Eternity Seventhly and Lastly To mortifie your corruptions to get your lusts mortified subdued cast out your souls more conformable to Christ this is an other work and the last work that I shall name that you Christians and Beleevers have to do and that with your might To get your lusts mortified and subdued Do it with your might do not look upon it as an easie matter as a frivolous business Do not go out against such Giants with straw and Bulrush But Oh! get the compleat Armour of God go forth in the name of Christ in the strength of Christ with the blood of Christ with with the promises of Christ it is a work of great concernment and therefore I beseech you do it in good earnest go out in the Name of the Lord and do this great work in good earnest that your corruptions may be mortified and more of the Image and likenesse of Christ may be imprinted upon your Spirits And thus have I shewed you my Brethren what it is for a man to do with his might and what are those works the Lord puts into your hands to do with all your might You have heard what works are put into the hands of sinners and what works are put into the hands of Beleevers And now I shall make some short Application and I have two words to speak First The one a word of Caution and Direction The other a word of Exhortation First in the first place a word of Caution and Direction is needful and let this be the first Caution That though God call upon you to work with your might yet he doth not put you upon it to work to pay your debt To discharge that great debt of ten thousand Talents of transgressions My Brethren if you had a thousand hands to work with if you could work as much as the very Angels it is not possible you should work so much as should discharge the debt for you could not pay the least farthing of that which is owing to God No know my Brethren the Father of mercies hath pittyed poor Creatures he sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ for this end to marry poor Widdow-souls that were left in an infinite debt and could not discharge it he hath sent his Son to to pay the debt of every widdow-soul that is content to be espoused to Christ he came from Heaven for this end he wrought with his hands he had no other way to pay the debt he left himself poor The Lâ—rd Jesus was rich but for your sakes he became poor he had no way to pay the debt but by working with his hands he wrought hard he wrought till he sweat he wrought till he sweat drops of water and blood he wrought three and thirty years together that he might pay this great debt that was owing that his people did owe to the Father And therefore take heed you do not go about to work to discharge your own debt do not work to pay your debt but work because your debt is paid and discharged by Jesus Christ Secondly Take heed you do not work for your living God calls upon you to work with your might but he does not put you upon it to work for your living Life is not from your works neither should Christians live upon their works The life of your joy and the life of your peace the life of your comforts the life of your righteousness it is not from your works the Lord never put you upon it to work for this end no Christ hath wrought enough for his people that they might live as his people he hath provided for their maintenance to fill their cup he hath provided for their cloathing he put mighty righteousness everlasting righteousness upon you It is not now to do and live this is not the Covenant But the Covenant of grace is live and do fetch life from Christ and then do and do with all your might because life is given freely by Christ Thirdly God doth not put you upon it to work to purchase love to purchase favour or to purchase Heaven I say you are not to work to purchase the favour of God by your works to purchase Heaven by the works of your hands Alas Adam in innocency could not do it he could not yearn life by working And how shall poor Creatures in a fallen estate be able to purchase and yearn life by their own works No if
you will seek salvation by works you rest upon your works and if you rest upon your works you break your works and both you and your works are like to be lost for ever and therefore know my Brethren you are to do your utmost for God if you could do ten thousand times more all is too little for God But know that life and salvation is not purchased by your doing work as much and do as much for God be as diligent in doing the work of God as if life were to be purchased by works but when you have done your utmost renounce all and know that by your own works you are no more nigh to Heaven then the very Publicans and Harlots It is by the door of grace only that you must enter into life That is the third Fourthly When God calls you to work with your might he does not call you to work with your own strength I beseech you take this Caution along with you that poor Creatures may not think that they are able to do that which they are called upon to do I say the Lord does not call you to work in your own strength And therefore know that without Christ you can do nothing you are not fit for the least work for the least duty All your sufficiency must come down from Heaven you cannot beleeve you cannot repent you cannot obey you cannot give glory to God unless this power be given you from on high you cannot move towards God in any gracious action unless the Lord comes in with strength O therefore when ever you are to work for God go and set your selves under the promise the promise of strength and assistance Go and look for strength to Christ do not act in your own strength Oh let your souls open to the breathings of the Spirit of Jesus Christ The soul never acts graciously but when it is acted by the Spirit of Christ Oh know that you are as a Ship becalmed upon the Sea and you cannot sayl till the spirit breath upon you and fill the sayle of your affections and carry you God-ward and Heaven-ward and therefore let Christ be your strength wait for his strength that you may say Now I live and yet not I but it is Christ that liveth in me I act and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me I pray and yet not I I beleeve and yet not I I obey and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me it is his strength that helps me This is the fourth Caution I beseech you take heed you do not work in your own strength you will spoil your works Fiftly Take this Caution do not present your works your selves to God When you have done your work go to Jesus Christ and desire him to carry your works home Christians know it is not for you to carry your work home it is the Office of Christ and therefore make use of Christ and say Lord present this Sacrifice this Duty do thou wash it with thine own blood and cover it with thine own righteousness I tell you your works are not pleasing unless they come out of the hands of Jesus Christ Christ must wash your works and perfume your works and sweeten your works and present your works with acceptation to the Father and therefore when you have wrought with all your might let Jesus Christ present it to God your Father and his Father Sixtly Take heed that when you work with all your might you work not for your own end I tell you good works may be spoiled if you work for your own end if self come in a man may work the work of a Magistrate or the work of a Minister but if self come in if vain glory be his end if the praise of men if his own profit If the glory of God be not the end he propounds to himself that man will be called by Christ another day a worker of iniquity We have cast out Devils in thy name and yet saith Christ to them I know you not depart from me ye workers of iniquity Oh this is the dead fly that spoils the Box of Ointment when a man does it for vain glory to be seen of men to get a name in the world and to raise their estates in the world when they do publique works for private ends how ever it seems to be glorious it is abhominable and therefore when ever you work for God make God your principal Begin in his strength and end for his glory The second word is a word of Exhortation and I will conclude with that let me speak in my former order first to Sinners and then to Beleevers and I will be but short First to Sinners You that have not yet wrought the work of God you that have not given up your names to Christ in whose heart the great work of faith is not yet wrought You that are found this day working the works of darkness the works of iniquity Let me speak a word to you let me reason with you thus in the name of the Lord Jesus my Master and yours What do you think of it my dear friends does it not concern you Is not this a work put into your hands to seek after an interest in Jesus Christ to beleeve in his name to give up your selves unto him is not this work that is put into your hands that God hath given you to do in this moment of your life Doth it not concern you to beleeve in the name of Christ think you Without faith it is not possible to please God If you be found in a way of unbelief you are found in the way of wrath It is said the wrath of the Lord does hang over the heads of unbeleevers If in a state of unbelief you are in an estate of wrath if in an estate of unbelief you are lost and your works are lost whatsoever you do without faith your works cannot be accepted without faith you cannot please God without faith you cannot enter into life And now what think you my dear friends is it not a work that concerns you to seek after faith in Jesus Christ If you grant it let me further urge it upon you Oh if this be your work then do it with your might Oh that the Lord would stir up your hearts to do it with your might There is but a moment to seek faith in there is but a moment to seek after an interest in Christ and if this be not done now O when shal it be done If it be not done now it is like to be undone for ever there is no work in this kind in the grave there is no repenting in the grave no beleeving in the grave there is no turning to God in the grave Oh that the Lord would perswade your hearts of a necessity of seeking after Christ and getting an interest in him and do it I beseech you speedily and diligently the
Kâ—ngs for their sakes Touch not mine Anointed and do my Propâ—ets noâ—â—arm you know what command God gave to Laban and what restraint he laid upon Esau concerning Jacob in Gen 31 33. though it was in the heart of Laban to destroy him and though Esâ—u came out with an intention to take away his life the Lord laâ—d a restraint upon them Again Sometimes you shall finde that God Sixtly upon deadly Diseases hath laid a restraint upon deadâ—y Diseases upon violent sicknesses such as would have been destructive to the bodies of his Servants God hath laid a restraint upon them that though vâ—olent Diseases and Dâ—stempers have pulled down his Servants from their strength to great weakness to the grave God hath given command that they should not destroy them And thus God dealt with David and with Hâ—â—zekiah and David doth acknowledge it in the 30. Psalm 3. saith he O Lord thoâ— hast brought up my soul from the nrave thou hast kept me alive that I shoâ—ld got go dâ—wn â—o the pit He was at the very grave and he Lord delivered him and then a remarkable instance you have of Hezekiah at the 38. of I aâ— at the beginning of the Chapter there is the very sentence of death gone out against him and a deadly Disease seizes upon Hâ—zekian he was gone and quite gone by the course of nature he could not have lived and yet the Lord rescues his life as you shall read in that Chapter at the fift verse Again Sometimes you shall finde that God Seventhly upon the Divel hath laid a restraint upon the very Devil himself and hath given him a charge that he should not meddle nor touch the lives of his Servants and thus God dealth with Job as you may see in the second of Iob there the Divel sought after nothing more then the life of Iob fain would he have had his life but God would not grant it in the 6. vers of that Chapter in the 5. verse saith Satan Put forth thy hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee tâ— thy face vers 6. And the Lord Answered Behold he is in thine hand only save his life There is nothing the Divel thirsts more after then the taking away the precious life and therefore he set upon Christ with this temptation If thou beest the Son of God cast thy self down and so the Devil doth set upon many of the poor Servants of God many times with this Temptation Cast thy self down make away thy self and take away thine own life Yet the Lord is pleased to lay a restraint upon him and keep up his people notwithstanding all those stormes and temptations and they are yet in the land of the living and thus you see what care God takes for the lives of his Servants and in what a wonderful manner he doth sometime rescue them from death and destruction But you will say What end hath God in this Wherefore doth God do this First of all and above all in respect of his own Name He respects his own glory in it therefore The first ground of the Point he suffers his people to be brought into such great straits and low conditions as none but God can deliver thence He suffers them to be brought down sometime even to the very dust that it may appear that none can deliver but God that doth raise from the dead and call things that are not as if they were Now Gods name is glorified these 3. ways by such kind of deliverances as these Fâ—rst of all God doth thereby draw forth great praises from his people I say such deliverances How Gods Name is glorified iâ— delivering of his Servants draw forth great praises from his people When God gives great mercies into the hands of his people he is pleased to put high praises into the mouths of his Servants in Ps 149. at the 5. and 6. v. Lâ—t the Saints be â—oyful in glory let them sing aloud upon their beds Let the â—igh praises of God be in their mouth Now my brethren know this That there is nothing on earth that God doth more delight in then in the praise of his people he is pleased to account it as a glory done to him Who so offereth prâ—ise glorifieth me and therefore it is that God is said to dwâ—ll in the praises of his people See that expression in the 22 Psalm it is an expression of Jâ—sus Christ in his Agony 22 3. v. Oh thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel To inhabit the praises of Israel 't is one of the most glorious Titles that is given to God O thou that inhabitâ—st the praises of Israel The Lord delights more in the praises of Israel then in all the world beside He delights there more then in Heaven if it were not for the presence of his Son therefore it is one of the dwellings of God the praises of his people Great Princes and Nobles have their several Palaces so hath God sometime they leave the City and go into the Country and places of Recreation Why thy Lord he is said sometime to come down among his people and he is pleased to dwell there that he may refresh himself in the praises of his people 'T is a house that God doth delight to dwell in for ever and for ever when Faith shall cease and Prayers shall cease the Praises of the Saints the Halelujahs shall never cease but the Saints shall compass the Throne round about with their Praises with their Songs with their Hallelujahs and there shall God delight to dwell there shall God delight to inhabit for ever and therefore because that God doth thus delight in the praises of his people he works great deliverances that so he may greatly draw forth the praises of his people that their hearts may be abundantly inlarged to him He will work such deliverances as there shall be a great deal of God in them that so their hearts may be greatly drawn forth in praises to God 2. Again God gets himself the glory in the second place by confuting the blasphemies of the enemies and therefore 't is that God doth carry on such works of deliverance that he may stop the mouth of enemies and confute all their blasphemies When God brings his people into a low condition many times enemies they rise high in their blasphemies against God and his people sometimes they cry out where is now thy God and sometimes they condemn the generation of the righteous and judge rashly as those in Act. 28. did of Paul when they saw the Viper on his hand they said among themselves No doubt this man is a murderer whom though he hath escaped the Sea yet vengeance suffereth him not to live Now God many times he works great deliverance that he may confute the enemies of the Saints that they shall see if they will not willfully blinde their eyes they shall see that God was in the generation of
care of me he delivered me when I was in such straits when I was almost dead strugling to get into this world the hand of the Lord was helping of me The hand of the Lord was more to me then all creatures he helped me See at the beginning from first to last God takes a special care of the lives of his Saints Fourthly It will further appear this great love of God this great care of God will further appear if we consider what a rate he makes men pay for the lives of his Saints when they take their lives away by violence He will make them know they have stolen precious Jewels from him and he will make them pay dear for it you know what it cost Jerusalem there was found the blood of the Prophets slain there was a great deal of blood lay upon them the blood of Abel and the blood of Zacharias and they shed the blood of the Prophets and Servants of God and that blood became their overthrow the blood of them did throw down the Walls and Temple of the City the streams of blood did sweep away all the Inhabitants thereof whensoever the life of a Saint is stolen and taken away God presently sends Hue and Cry after it and wheresoever God hath found the blood of his people he hath declared his wrath against them he hath prosecuted the Law to the uâ—most against them See what is prophesied of Babylon how doth the Lord deal with her in the 18. of Revelation when God came to make inquisition after the blood of the Saints 't is said And in her was found the blood of the Saints There God found his stolen Jewels the blood of his Saints See how God doth prosecute the Law against her in thaâ— 18. Chapter you read of most fearful judgments that came upon Babylon God seizes upon all her Riches all her Glory and they were all brought down in a day she her self was brought to execution she was cast down as a Milstone cast down into the bottom of the Sea never to to rise again what was the cause of all this wrath and diâ—pleasure and fearful judgements that was to come upon Babylon Why this was given as the reason In her was found the blood of the Prophets So then still you see and I beseech you beleeve it there is nothing in all the world more precious to the Lord then the lives of his Servants Well 2ly If the lives of the Servants of God Use 2 be so precious how precious are the souls of his Servants the life is more then rayment saith Christ the life is more then all creatures and the soul is more then life the life of Christ in the soul it must needs be a hundred times more precious a thousand times more precious Oh what a high account hath God of the souls of his people what will not God part with rather then he will loose the souls of his people he will part with the Jewel of Heaven the great Jewel of Heaven to ransome the souls of his people he was content that his Son should come out of his bosome rather then he would loose one of the souls of his people the Son was infinitely dear to the Father more dear to him then all the world yea ten thousand worlds and yet he will part with his son that he may rescue the souls of his people from destruction Oh how precious was the soul in the eye of Christ what did he do what did he suffer to redeem the precious soul how far did he come to fetch them a mighty journey the Lord Christ took from Heaven to Earth that he might bring back poor souls that were taken captive by the Divel and rescue them from death and destruction what great hazard did the Lord Christ run when he was upon Earth Oh what mighty Armies what Troops did Jesus Christ break through Armies of sins and Armies of Divels that was in his way and yet he brake through them all to rescue the souls of his Servants when he had broke through those Troops what depths did he descend into that he might fetch up the souls of his Servants He was content to go into the depths of the Sea the red Sea the Sea of blood yea into the depths of the Sea of his Fathers wrath and indignation that so he might fetch up the souls of his Servants the depth of the wrath of God the depth of the infinite wrath of God it is a Sea that hath no bottom a Sea of wrath that men and Angels should never have found the bottom they shall be descending lower and lower still and never find the bottom and yet the Son of God was content to go to the bottome of wrath of all the billows of his Fathers wrath and displeasure that so be might fetch up the souls of his servants that lay under wrath they could never have lift up their heads above the billows of the displâ—aâ—ure of the Almighty if Christ had not fetcht them up if he had not upon his own back carryed them over Oh how precious were the souls of his Saints in the eye of God! The life of the Son of God was precious to him and yet his life was nothing to him in comparison that he might save the souls of his people if he had a thousand lives he would have layd them all down Now I beseech you think of this you that have a mean account of your souls O how precious is the soul in the account of the Son of God how great was the price that Christ paid for thy soul and why dost thou undervalue thy soul and art willing to part with this most precious treasure in the world it cost the life of the Son of God to purchase thy soul and wouldst thou be content to sell thy soul for a trifle and yet how many thousands in the world do value a thousand things in the world above their souls and many they will part with their souls for a lust for vanity for nothing for a bag of earth for an empty cloud of honour for a little pleasure Oh what undervaluing is this of thy poor soul I beseech you remember the worth of the soul do but consider how precious it was in the eye of God you that do slight your precious souls If 〈◊〉 â—â—ed your body you care not if the soul starve Oh that you would remember you wiâ—l make a hard bargain though you win all tâ—e world and loose your own soul what shall a man gâ—â—e in exchange for his soul I beseech you for the Lords sake have more care of your souls let your souls be precious in your eyes 't is more worth then all the world if you loose the things of the world you may find them again you may gain them again if you loose all the friends in the world you may finde them all in the Son of God he stands in all relations to his people nay
labour to be for God every one of you in your places Oh lay out your selves with all your might to do something for God though the service you are to perform in your generation may be tedious may be laborious and toilesome to the flesh yet be willing to lay out your selves for God lay down strength for God and lay down life for God Why consider there is a long rest that is prepared for the people of God this is the day time and here you must work for God there shall come a time of rest yeâ— they shall rest in their grave there is sleeping time enough and they shall rest in Heaven and there they shall rest enough they shall rest for ever and for ever and therefore be content to do for God and lay down all your strength for God Oh there is a resting time a long resting time that is prepared for you I have glorifiâ—d thee on earth saith Christ to his Father and now Oh Father glorifie me in Hâ—aven labour every one of you in your places in your callings to exalt the name of God to glorifie God on earth I would not have you glorifie God that God may glorifie you that is not the end of your work but glorifie God because he will glorifie you because he hath declared that there is rest for you that are his people and there is an eternal rest in which he will glorifie you with himself Oh glorifie him therefore with your lives with your strength with your abilities with your parts with your riches with all you have glorifie God in your lives I shall conclude all with one word of Exhortation doth God rescue the lives of his servants in such a wonderful manner why let his servants for ever trust him as great mercies do call for great thankfulnes so they call for great faith in the Lord expect a great deal of future confidence in him when he hath declared his name to his people when he hath once made his goodness and mercy and power and faithfulness and truth to pass by before them in some special providence he expects then that they should trust him in the lowest condition in the faddest condition that you should take hold of him and live upon him he expects that you should reason upon former experiences and remember the years of the right hand of the most high remember such and such yeers when the right hand of the most High was declared when God wrought such works of deliverance such and such wonderful mercies the Lord expects that such kind of deliverances should be ingagements to trust in him to trust in him at all times Many times we will not beleeve unless we see signes and wonders and the Lord he is pleased to condescend to our weakness and Christ he shews us a Miracle yea he shews many wonderful works mercies and deliverances that he works for his people and now God he may wonder at the weakness of our faith if after all these wonders we shall distrust him See what the Psalmist saith in Psalm 96. 10. Be still and know that I am God why in all your afflictions in all your temptations in all your crosses in all sad conditions God would have you to be still and know that he is God and when ever we have received any special mercy from God we should urge this upon our owâ— souls if at any time we are ready to distrust God and repine at any of the dealings of God Oh my soul be still and know that God is Jehovah remember the years of his right hand remember what he did for such and such of his servants and for thee in such a condition how he made his power and mercy and truth and faithfulness to pass before thee and wilt thou again murmur and repine and distrust him Oh my soul be still and know that he is God know that he is Jehovah and that he gives existence to his promises know that he is as good as his word know that he is better then his word when ever any rebellious lust doth rise up in thy heart after we have received mercies which is a great ingagement yet still beat it back with this know that the Lord is Jehovah the Lord hath a mighty Arm and as he hath done so he will do and he will not leave his people the power and the goodness of the Lord it should sound in our ears when ever we are in any strait this is a glorifying of God for mercies received And Brethren upon all occasions Remember the years of the mercy of the most High See what the Psalmist saith with which I will conclude all Psal 62. 11. God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God God hath spoken how hath he spoken in some glorious deliverance he hath spoken in some great mercy for God speaks in his providence as well as in his words and when God speaks in his mercy he expects that we should hear him nay that we should not only hear him but that we should hear him often he expects that we should hear what should we hear we should hear this That power belongeth to God * When ever God worketh any glorious deliverance this should sound in our ears That power belongeth to God and mercy belongeth to God and loving kindness and free grace belong to God and so loving kindness it belongs to God The Attributes of God that do found in evâ—ry mercy in every deliverance and in some special mercies we should not hear it once but twice God spoke once and I heard it twice that is often 't is an allusion to an Eccho a man speaks sometime that it raises an Eccho and the words will be repeated again he shall hear it round about him the words sound again he speaks once and it sounds twice often so there is such a voice in many mercies many deliverances and many special providences they sound lovd as the Eccho of a man doth The Lord speaks once we should hear twice that power belongs to God Well remember that the Lord expects that thou should'st hear it often and when ever thou art brought into a low condition remember this what thou hearest in thy former low condition that power belongs to God and mercy belongs to God And thus should we trust the Lord in straites former mercies are ingagements for the future and this is part of the glory the Lord expects this is part of the In-come that he desires for mercy for deliverance poor creatures that have seen much in it they should never forget the loving kindness of God when they are in straits in great straits still to make use of former experiences and to remember the years of the right hand of the most High Thus you hear what improvement there should be of our afflictions THE Third Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst
God before the soul hath tryed him before he hath had experience this is an honour a great honour that is done to God and this is the faith that wil hold out this wil last this kinde of faith it will uphold the soul in the greatest straits in the lowest condition when sense fails and when experiences are gone out of sight why then this kinde of Faith wil hold up the soul when the soul can trust the Lord though he had not tryed him trust him though God had not given experience trust him first of all because of his word because of the word of his grace that is given forth to the soul as a foundation to build upon this is an honour Indeed to God Secondly Be careful throughout all your Caution 2. whole course of life that you rely more upon the word of the Lord then upon your experiences throughout the whole course of your life you will find this more beneficial to rely upon the word of the Lord and here I beseech you to remember that this life it is the life of Faith it is the life of Faith and not the life of sense in Heâ—ven the Saints shall live by sence they shall have no need of Faith the life of Faith is not proper for them but the life of Faith is proper to Gods people on earth to beleeve and not see Faith is the evidence of things nâ—t seen it is taken up with things not seen I say this life it should be a life of Faith unto the Saints 't is not a life of sence And consider moreover if God do give any spiritual sence or if he do give any experiences of his love it is given for this end that so he might help the Faith of his people that he might help their Faith and strengthen their Faith that so he might encourage them for the future to trust in him to trust in him when they see him not when all is dark and sad when God seems to be out of sight I say God gives incouragements for this end that so he might incourage them to beleeve and therefore it is that oftentimes he trains up his people in this way he will strike the Crutches out of their hands he will put them to it they shall walk alone by Faith that all the sence of Gods dealings with them shall be out of sight they shall have nothing to rely upon God will put them to it to rely upon him alone upon a naked word of promise upon the word of grace to rely upon him though they have nothing in the world to rely upon 2. Consider though it be great mercy that the Lord is pleased to condescend so far to the Creature to give spiritual sence and many times experiences by which he will seal up his word and his grace to them yet it is a greater mercy that God hath given a word of promise to rely upon that is the greatest mercy in the world asurer foundation of hope and that which will stand a poor creature in stead when 't is in the dark when all the sence will be in the dark and experiences out of sight but then the word oâ— the Lord wil endure for ever and so then to have a word of grace to rely upon a word of promise this is the greatest mercy that God can shew to poor Creatures My Brethren if it were not for this it were not possible that the soul should be at any certainty though God had given never so many experiences of his love though the soul had seen and though it had felt and tasted of love and though it had layen in the bosome of Jesus Christ and been refresht with his â—ove yet if the Lord had not given a word of grace to rely upon aword of promise to rely upon It would be impossible but that â—t some time or other they would call all in question for 't is not possible that otherwise the soul should be supported in dark conditions for why when the soul begins to look towards God why it is fill'd with the sense of his own vileness with the sence of his own unworthiness Oh that â—s one of the greatest discoveries that the Lord makes shew the soul how vile it is in it self and therefore I say the soul is ready to question all all that God hath done for it though it hath seen God walk in a way of love to him yet still Oh 't is too good for me too good for such a â—ile Creature as I am Again The desire of the soul is carryed mighâ—ily after God when God comes once to set his Face towards Heaven it is fill'd with vast desires to God that it can never have enough never be satisfied and though God do come and manifest himselfe by gracious Experiences yet still it desires more of God It is apt to question Have I any thing of God or no Have I seen God or no it is very solicitous when it is once set towards Heaven God makes it very solicitous concerning the great matters of Eternity 't is fill'd with the weighty thingsof Eternity and the weighty business of Eternity so though God hath come and hath spoke and the soul hath seen God and experiences of God yet because it apprehends such great weighty matters concerning the soul for eternity all experiences are called in question of Gods love and his favour to him A man is so careful in this case that he will scarce beleeve himself nay though he have seen Christ and though he have felt him and seen his goings still he will hardly beleeve himself whether he hath seen him or no you know Mary Magdalâ—u she was very solicitous she stood weeping she saw him and she would not beleeve her own sence and so 't is with a poor Child of God Oh 't is so solicitous that though it have seen Christ and experiences of his goodnesse and his favour and love yet it will scarcely beleeve his own sence and he is apt to call all in question whether he hath seen the Lord or no So that still I say after all experiences and the manifestations of love the soul would call all in question many and many a time if iâ— had not a word of Grace to trust to and therefore the Saints are more beholden to the Lord for his Word of Gruce to them then for all experiences And remember this That though God hath done uever so much for you and you have seen hiâ— goings in your hearts yet doe not you make your experience the first Ground oâ— your trust and do not trust to your experiences so but look to the Promises as thâ— Promises as the onely Foundation that will â—ear up your heart for ever through all dark conditions And so for Experiences look upon them as Crutches to lead you to the word of his Grace but they are not to be rested in THE Fourth Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo
should not be only Musquet proof but Cannon proof stand out not only agaiâ—st afflictions lesser judgments but stands out against great judgments many times against miraculous judgments why here is a strange stoutness and hardness in every mans heart Oh what a dead sleep is every man by nature cast into you will say that man is in a dead sleep that though he be shot at it cannot wake him that he should sleep secure when the house is on fire about his ears truly this is the condition of every man by nature though God do lay Cannon shot against him and though God set on fire the world about his ears yet still he sleeps what a strange condition is the state of nature Let us all take notice of it and set us all bewail it in the presence of God seeing how woful it is and what we are like Secondly If Miracles cannot convert a soul Vse 2 then what a Miracle is it that any soul is converted truly we may stand and wonder that any soul should be brought home to God how many Mâ—racles is in this work of conveâ—sion to convert a soul to God 't is a greater Miracle then to open the eyes of the blind to give strength to lame to give life to the dead a greater Miracle then to turn darkness into light a greater Miracle then to beat down strong Cities with seven Râ—ms horns 't is a greater Miracle then to make the world he spake and it was done it was made he spake his word and the world was created but God speaks again and again once and twice and often before the new creature is formed before Many Miracles in the conversion of a soul to God faith is created in the heart of man and truly Brethren you need not wonder that so few are brought home to God that 's not the Miracle but stand and wonder that any should be brought home to God there are many Miracles in the conversion of the soul to God I beseech you take notice of them there is a Miracle of First Miraclâ— of wisâ—dâ—m of wisdome there is a Miracle of wisdom I say in the conversion of a soul that God should find out a way to reconcile himself to a sinner and then reâ—oncile the sinner to himself here is infinite wisdom to finde out a way to reconcile himself to the sinner to find out a way to satisfie both justice and mercy that they should meet each other and kiss each other and both be satisfied that justice should say I have enough and Mercy should say I am well pleased and both be glorified in Christ Brethren here is a way that men and Angels could never have found out here is a Miracle of wisdome to reconcile the sinner to God also here is abundance of the wisdom of God that God should finde out a way to make a rebellious sinner come in and submit when he had stood out long and stood many batteries that God had layd against him that the Lord should bring him in by a word of his grace that God should come and catch a poor soul and take him before the soul be aware here is abundance of holy wisdom truly none could do this but only God And as there is a Miracle of wisdom so there Secondly Therâ— is a Mirâ—â—le of Power is a Miracle of power in every souls conversion Oh wonderful power hath God put forth to overâ—ome the creature and to overcome himselâ— To overcome the creature to make a stubborn stout hearted sinner relent to shake the Oaks of Bashan and make the Cedars of Lebanon to stoop Yet truly this is the work of God he put abundance of power into a word of his and when an obstinate sinner hath stood out boâ—h the allurements of Mercy and hath out stood all the batteries of Judgment that God hath laid against him God hath sent out many Armies of judgments to bring him in and they have returned back again and have not done their work and that yet the Lord at last should be pleased to arme a word of his a poor naked word of his with so much power â—o give such authority and to give such commission as to go and bring in the stout hearted sinner and make him fall down at the footstole of Jesus Christ here is a Miracle of power and then that God should overcome all his wrath and all his fury and indignation and say it is not in me I give thee leave to draw nigh to me in my Son fury is not in me that God should overcome himself to stoop to the creature that the Majesty of Heaven should first stoop to the creature that the Prince should come and beseech the Rebel to accept of mercy offer the first tearms of peace and not looking to the infinite distance that is between him and the creature but lay that aside and beseech a poor creature to accept of mercy here is a Miracle of power And then there is a Miracle of goodness a Miracle of mercy in every souls conversion a Miracle of mercy that God should pardon the sin of his people from Eternity Oh the Miracles of mercy writes the pardon gives the pardon into the Sons hand that he should work it over by Covenant and make all sure for his people in Christ even from Eternity even to give Christ a pardon for his peoples sins many thousand years before the sins are committed I do not say the pardon is given out to them before they are brought in to submit to Christ but it is given out into the hand of Christ that if they come and submit to Christ 't is in his hand to give it out 't is already written and Sealed here is a Miracle of Mercy Again that the Lord should so freely and so fully bâ—ot out transgressions that he should make the sins committed to be as if they had not been committed there shall no more remain of them as if they had never been acted to bury them to cast them behind his behind his back to throw them into the depth of the Sea to carry them into the wilderness into a land of forgetfulness that when they are sought for they shaâ—l not be found they shall be as if they had never been what a Miracle of mercy is this that God should bear no old grudge to a poor sinner a Rebel one that have stood out against him and yet that God should retain no grudge in his heart but receive a poor soul into his Bosom as if he had never been defiled to receive him into his own boâ—els into intimate communion and acquaintance with himself in love as if he had never bin a Râ—bel to bear no old grudg here 's wonderful rich mercy Again for God to account the soul righteous to look upon him as righteous when he is unrighteous to look upon him as righteous in Christ when he is full of spots and polutions and deâ—ormity
to the glorious Fathers and Because he pâ—ured out his soul as an offring for sin his Father gave him a portion with the great and mighty so that the number of Beleevers were increased and not diminished by this mischievous device against â—im The Primitive Churches persecution that was raised in Jerusalem it did help to the increase of the Gospel and number of Believers The Apostles and Brethren were scattered in the eighth of the Acts so they carryed the word up and down and by their means many were brought in to God Samaria a great City many in it were converted They with one accord gave heed to what Philip spake and there was great joy in that City I shewed you out of Ecclesiastical story that all the persecutions those bloody persecutions the Church meâ— with did not diminish but did increase the number of Believers The Lord delights to walk contrary to wicked men to cross the corrupt imaginations of the men of the world In those things wherein their deal proudly he will be above them he will let them know that his thoughts are above thy thoughts and his ways above thâ—ir wayâ— When they say concerning Sion Let her be defiled and let our eyes â—ook upoâ— her let us see her desolation They know noâ— the thoughts of the Lord nor understand his Counsel for the event shall be quite contrary their expectations The Lord Jesus is a great King and therefore it shall be so All power is given into his hand in Heaven and in Earth and he will order all for the advancement of his own Kingdom all is his and he hath given all to the Saints All is yours all shall do them good all shall further and increase their graces and the increase of his Kindom There is none can hinder the Lord from pouring out of his spirit there is none can hinder the Spirit from working and therfore all opposition cannot hinder the increase of Believers The wind blows where it lists and so the Spirit of the Lord breaths where it it pleaseth Man may as well stop the Sun in the Firmament or hinder the Sun from shining and the winde from blowing as the Spirit of the Lord from working grace he darts in beams of light beams of conviction to the hearts of Creatures and his work is an irresistable work all the powers of Hell and darkness shall not be able to hinder his work Therefore I conclude this Point with an Item to the men of the world To take heed how they seek to oppose the truth of Christ and the people of Christ this is not the way to diminish their number no the Lord he will out reach them in all their designâ— of persecution the hottest peâ—secution shall but increase the â—umber of the Saints they shall but sow the blood of Christ and their ashes the thicker and if one fall to the ground a hundred shall rise up in their stead But I entred into a second Point in which I shall proceed After we considered who this fourth man was Nebâ—chadnezzâ—r saw four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and tâ—ey have no hurt and the form of the foâ—rth is like thâ— Son of God it was indeed the Son of God It was the Angel of the Covenant the Lord Jesus who did assume a body at this time and came down to refresh his Servants in the fire It holds forth this That he would in time come to deliver poor servants from the flame of his Fathers wrath That he would be present with his people in all afflictions in the midst of all their fiery tryals The Proposition then entred into is this That the people of God never enjoy more of the presence of Christ then in their lowest conditions When they are in great afflictions and fiery tryals the Son of God is with them Here you see it in this fiery tryal Israel never saw more of God then when they were in the barren Wilderness Jacob never had such glorious visions as when he was driven from his house and home when he was separated from all creature comforts had not so much as a Bed to ly on nor a Pillow to lay his head upon but layd him down upon a heap of stones then had he those glorious Visions of the Ladder set up to Heaven and of the Angels ascending and descending Stephen never saw such glorious Visions of Jesus Christ but when he was vnder a showre of stones that took away his life He looked up then and he saw the Heavens opened and the Son of God at the right hand of the Father ready to recieve him The Apostle John never had so glorious Visions as when he was bâ—nished to the Isle of Paâ—mos then did Christ reveal those glorious Mysteries written in the Book of Revelations concerning the Churches to the end of the world The Primitive Churches enjoyed most of Christ in the times of persecution they enjoyed most of the presence of Christ and most of the mind of Christ most purity and most holiness they had most of the supporting presence of Christ then his left hand is put under to support a poor Creature when it is in a low condition in a sinking condition in an afflicted condition He supports the inward man and he supports the outward man he makes a little strength to go a great way as the Oyl in the widows cruse till such time as he sends deliverance unto his people They have never more of the enlightening presence of the teaching presence of Christ then in such conditions Affliction is Christs School in which he teaches his people many precious Lessons they have never more of the quickening presence of Christ then in such conditions never more of the Sanctifying presence of Christ he is pleased to make use of affliction to knock off that unevenness many times that is upon their Spirits and make them partake â—â— of his own nature They have never more of the comforting presence than in such conditions he brings his people into the Wilderness there he allures them and there he speaks to them then he puts under his left hand to support them and then his right hand embraces them But What are the grounds of the Point Why doth Jesus Christ manifest most of himself to his people in their afflicted conditions The Grounds of the Point First of all he knows that then they have most need of his presence If ever they have need of comfort if ever they have need of strength of teaching quickening guiding 't is then when they are in afflicted and low conditions then is a mercy sweet when 't is in seaâ—on and then 't is seasonable when a poor creature stands in need of it The Lord Jesus knows that they have need of his presence in low conditions First because of the weakness of the flesh And Secondly Because of the strength of temptation 1. Because of the weakness of the flesh He knows his peopâ—es framâ—
where I was saith he whether I was in the body or was taken out of the body I cannot test the Lord he knows and therefore still I say there is no cause why any of Gods people should inordinately fear affliction seeing you may meet with the presence of Christ in that condition and the presence of Jesus Christ will countervail the loss of all Creature comforts and the sweetness of it will be equivalent to the bitterness of it let thy condition be never so low That 's the third Use Fourthly Let the people of God expect the presence of Christ in their affliction in their low condition seeing Christ hath promised his presence do you expect his presence look for his presence Oh that we might labour to improve our affliction for this end that we may meet with more of Christ that we may enjoy more of the presence of Christ in our affliction truly there is a great deal lost Gods people loose abundance of sweetness which they might enjoy both in Ordinances and in afflâ—ction if their hearts were raised up to look for the performance of that which Christ hath promised if we would believe that Jesus Christ will be as good as his word did our souls expect the fuâ—lfilling of this word that â—e shall see the presence of Christ in affliction why then should we be so loth to suffer for Christ and be unwilling to submit to low conditâ—ons seeing it is the will of God that we should suffer Therefore I beseech you you that are the people of God get your hearts enlarged in affliction that so you may get above your â—ffliction if that you shall certainly meet with the presence of Jesus Christ in your afflicted conditions he hath spoken it he hath given out the word and therefore he will fulfill it what confidence had the people of God in their affliction when they remembred this I will fear none ill though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death And see what David saith in the 27. Psalm the beginning of it The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear the Lord is the strength of my liâ—e of whom should I be afraid I cannot tell who the enemy is who is it he looks and he fiâ—des none in all the world whom should I fear and be afraid of so long as the Lord is with me I see no such enemy and therefore I beseech you that you would look after the presence of Christ expect the presence of Christ in all your afflictions that you meet with Object But you will say I have no such word as David had David might well belâ—eve that the Lord would uphold him for David had a particular word God spake to David he â—ware to David He swore by his Holiness that he would not fail David and so others of the Sainâ—s they had a particular word the Lord spake to Joshua Fear not I will not leave thee be couragious but we have no such word and therefore how should we expect to meet with Christ in afflicted conditions Answ I Answer first of all Though God does not speak now from Heaven by Visions he doth not reveal himself by Vrim and Thuâ—mim as unto David yet we have a larger word then David had and Joshuah had the Scripture is larger now we have abundance of the word there was but little of the Scripture writ in Daâ—ids time and less in Joshuahs time there was none of the written word but only the Book of Moses but now we have the word of God compleat we have a sure word a large word and 't is full of gracious invitations and incouragements and therefore the Saints now may be incouraged as well as they to whom God spake Secondly Yea Secondly I say God hath sent forth more of his spirit now in a Gospel way in a way of Gospel dispensation there is a great deal more of the Spirit of Christ poured out Now 't is the work of the Spirit the Office of the Spirit to particularize those promises to the soul to take thâ— promises and bring them home to this and that particular soul Now where the Spirit of God comes â—â— comes with evidence and he brings home the word of grace to thâ— soul that the soul cannot gainsay it nor resist it Object But you will say How shall I know 't is the Spirit of God that doth speak to me Answ I Answer The Spirit of God always speaks according to the word of God I say it speaks according to the written word that is given to us it speaks according to the word of grace for the spirit and the word do bear mutual testimony one of another But I Answer 'T is in the power of the Spirit to resolve the soul the Lord Jesus sends forth the Spirit with so much evidence â—s to convince the heart that it is the spirit that speaks the Lord Jesus he is able to perswade the soul that it is not a delusion but speaking according to the word of grace it is indeed the voice of the Father the voice of the Spirit that speaks Objct. But you will object further If the Lord Jesus be present with mâ— according to his promise if the Lord were present with me in affliction why how is it possible that it should be thus with me as it is How is it possible that there should be so much deadness and so much of the world and unbelief Surèly the presence of Christ is not with me in my affliction Answ I Answer to such a poor soul that looks after the presence of Christ and fain would enjoy the presence of Christ but cannot see him in affliction I say first of all Undoubtedly there is the presence of Christ with thee and thou canst not but thou mayst see something if unthankfulnesse doth not lye before thine eyes he is there the Lord Jesus is there and he will make good his word certainly if he hath promised to be with his people in afflicted conditions he will make good his word anâ— he is with thee at the door though he may be behind the Curtain and undoubtedly he is not far as I said before Joseph was with his Brethren when they did not know him and so the Lord Jesus is present with his people and they do not see him he doth feed them support them and maintain their lives and they not know it Secondly Yea I say secondly That if thou dost not see more of the presence of Christ the fault is in thee 't is not in the Lord not in the word of the Lord he is present according to the word that he hath spoke and therefore Christ may be present and thou seest him not because through negligence thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him thou givest way to a slothful spirit and so thou dost not stir up thy self to take hold of him or else thou dost not exercise faith in thy afflicted
Lord hath put it into your hand and therefore now seek after an interest in Christ with all your might To you that have an interest in Christ I shall say no more but what I said before I laid you your work before you get more acquaintance with God get your hearts established upon the truth of the promises that you may not be left at uncertainties and lift up God in your generations and get your hearts made sensible of your frailty to dye daily to wait upon God with all your might in Ordinances to get your hearts subdued and your corruptions mortified This is your work and Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might To you that are the Fathers of the City I have one word to you from the Father of Heaven Oh that the Lord would make you willing to receive it and to do it with all your might There is something that is your work that the Lord requires you should do with all your might I shall but briefly give you a few hints and shal leave it to the blessing of the Lord. First of all There is a work of Judgment and Justice that the Lord hath put into your hands I say the first work that God hath put into your hands it is a work of Justice to punish sin to punish sin is the work that is in your hand to do to puâ—ish the breaches of the moral Law and the contempts thereof that Law of nature which is written in the heart of all men the Lord hath put it into your hand to punish the breach of this Law What ever your hand finds to do in this case I beseech you do it faithfully do it with your might God requires it of you that you should do it with your might yea let your hand find out sinners let your hand do this work of the Lord to punish the drunkards and the swearers and the prophane persons the deceiver the lyar and the stealer and all other workers of iniquity here is no fear of smiting Christ smite here and spare not where there is no danger of smiting Christ smite on and spare not do it with all your might the Lord lays it before you as your duty Secondly There is a work of Righteousness and Equity that the Lord puts into your hands to do and Oh that you would do this also with all your might to judge betwixt man and man do it faithfully to accept no mans person to know no friend in the matter of Justice but to decide every mans cause with wisedom and with faithfulnesse and with sincerity not to know Father nor Brother nor Son nor Daughter as Levi did not in the cause of God That so Justice and Righteousness may run down as a mighty stream That there may be no oppression that there may be no complaining in our streets This is the second work that the Lord puts into your hand And Oh that you would do it with your might The third work is a work of Mercy There is a work of mercy the Lord puts into your hands to relieve the poor and the needy and the fatherless to take care that the poor be provided for that they may have work that they may have employment and that they may have maintenance this is a work of mercy that the Lord puts into your hands to do Oh it is one of the crying sins of England it is the sin of the whole Land and Oh that it were not the sin of this City that the poor are not yet imployed and provided for that God would put it into your hearts to do it Oh that some blessed hand might find out this way to employ the poor this would be an acceptable work of mercy Know that the Lord hath given you something for the poor though I think every man hath a propriety in his estate yet I also think that God hath given every man something for the poor and truly before God the poor hath a right in it though not to take yet it is your duty to give and to provide for them And I fear if this work do not go through the whole land that there be not some provision made for the work of the poor and for the relief of the poor That God will level this Land and that God will bring down all the pomp and pride and stain the glory of all flesh in it this is a work of mercy There is a fourth work and that is a work of Piety that God puts into your hand to seek the good of poor souls to provide that all that are under your power in this City may be instructed in the knowledg of the Lord Jesus to send into the dark corners the Suburbs of this City and not only to confine men to the heart of the City but send to them that will not come out for it The Lord Jesus came to seek as well as to save and therefore send forth to seek them they know not what they do in rejecting the means of life But Oh send to seek them and instruct them in the knowledge of the Lord that they may not perish for want of provision And what though my Fathers and Brethren every man cannot see his way clear to take a Pastoral charge of such a people where he knows there is but little of Christ yet if he do the work what though he do it not under that notion If he preach Christ to them if he bleed for them If his desires be to instruct them and be willing to instruct them in publique and private and to pray for them that the Lord would give them repentance and bring them into the number of Christs Sheep-fold I say if this work be done what though it be not done under that notion why should the work of the Gospel be hindred If in all other things men be conscientious and able and fit to teach and instruct the people in the knowledg of Jesus Christ this will be a work of Piety to send into the dark corners of the City that there may be no place in which the word of the Lord shall not be heard There is a work of Love to Christ and of wisedome to your selves and I will name no more I commend this to you as the last And Oh that your hand would finde to do it a work of love to Christ and of wisedom to your selves And that is to protect the Saints and those that have an interest in Christ and desire to walk unblamably before you if they be such as walk according to the Law of God and not disobey the Law of Magistracy it is the work of the Magistrates to protect them The Magistrate is set up to be a praise to them that do well What though they may differ from you in particular opinions I am pâ—rswaded it will not excuse before Christ not to have protected them If you be convinced that they are
such as fear the Lord and desire to walk conscientiously It is your work to be a wall to them and to protect them so they walk regularly and in the fear of the Lord The people of God they are the strength of the Land who ever they be they are the strength of the Land they are the strength of a City They protect you and therefore it is your work to protect them The godly in a City they protect the City they are the safety of the City God said he could not destroy Sodom so long as Lot was there and could do nothing so long as righteous Lot was among them they are the strength of a City I beseech you see what is said in the second of Zechariah verse 5. And the Governours of Judah shall say in their hearts the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God Such as fear the Lord of all ranks they are the strength of the City and the time is a coming when the Governours of Judah shall say so The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God they have great interest in God and therefore they are my strength they are the strength of the Governours and they are the strength of the City And now let me say to you as Paul said to Agrippa Beleeve you this Oh you Fathers of the City do you beleeve this that the Inhabitants of Jerusalem they are your strength and the strength of the City in the Lord of Hosts their God do 〈◊〉 beleeve this I know you beleeve it 〈…〉 the Lord will cause you all to beleeve 〈…〉 people of God what ever they be they are 〈◊〉 strength of the City you shall say it one day all the Governors of Judah shal say That the Inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God And now I have humbly presented this Counsel as from the Lord I have laid before you what is your work 1. There is a Work of Justice 2. A Work of Equity 3. A Work of Mercy 4. A Work of Piety 5. A Work of Love to Christ in the protection of his people And a work of Wisedom to your selves which will be your strength And now let me say to all Christians and Christian Magistrates Let me say to you all what ever is your work what ever is in your hand to do Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might What is in your hand to do as Christians as Magistrates Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might I shall not need to press it further upon you both as Christians The Devil worketh with all his might and shall not Christians work with their might and Magistrates work with their might He goes about night and day seeking whom he may devour and shall not you go about night and day seeking whom you may save And seeking whom you may punish for contemning the Law of the Lord your God The Divel compasses the earth Whence comest thou I come from â—â—â—â—â—assing the earth And Oh shall not Christians 〈◊〉 â—ith all their might when Satan doth with all his might sinners do with all their might and shall not Christians do with their might It is said of sinners That they draw iniquity as with Cart-ropes It is the expression of the Prophet and in the seventh of Micah it is said they sin with both hands they do evil with both hands aye earnestly and they do it with both hands and if they sin with both hands shall not Christians do good with both hands Shall they sin with all their might and shall not you do the work of God with all your might Let me say further to you Christ did the work of the Father with all his might and your work with all his might the work of your salvation he wrought three and thirty years together he sweat hard And Oh! shall not you in a way of love in a way of obedience labour to do for God with all your might seeing Christ hath done for you with all his might Let me say to you you are not put upon it to work for life and righteousness or for Heaven but only to express your thankfulnesse your love and obedience and therefore well may you work for God you have a great deal of work and you have but a little time to do it Sinners you are hastning to the grave Oh work for God with all your might Christians you are hastning to the grave Magistrates you are hastning to the grave Oh then do what ever you find to do for God with all your might There is no work as a Magistrate nor as a Minister nor as a Christian in the graâ—e whither thou art going here is all the working time that you shall have for eternity you have six days to work in And you that are Beleevers shall have a long rest you may well work a while though you sweat hard for it there is no more time to work in but a long time to rest in an everlasting Rest eternity of Rest that shall never have an end your rest is long And Oh make hast there is no possibility of working more for God hereafter If you do not finish your work now you cannot finish it in the grave You had need work the Candle is set up and you have but little of the Candle left Oh if you do not finish this work of God before this Candles end be out there is nothing but darknesse in the grave There is no wisedom no device c. If there were work you could not see But there is no beleeving no repenting no doing for God no further time to be serviceable to God but a time of receiving for the Saints and a time for the wicked to be punished And therefore What ever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor wisedom in the grave whither thou goest And so much for this time FINIS ERRATA PAge 1. line 12. read seemeth p. 4. l. 17. r. bonds p. 5. l. 15. r. act p. 6. l. 10. r. was p. 9. l. 22. r. grave p. 11. l. 31. r. the. p. 16. l. 5. r they for now p. 17. l. 28. r. this p. 21. l. 15. blot out as r. in as dye p. 41. l. 26. r. open p. 43. last v. r. get p. 49. last v. blot out time p. 68. l. 27. r. grace p. 73. l. 6. r. whether p. 74. last v. r. superstition p. 75. l. 7. r. past and l. 9. r. not p. 77. l. 13. r. though and l. 25. r. to p. 78. l. 18. r. terrible and l. 30 r. in a. p. 81. l. 27. blot out either p. 93. l. 25. r. done p. 99. l. 6. r. off and l. 28. r. his p. 100. l. 3 and 4. blot out the thought of p. 101. l. 5. r. but for that p. 103. l. 30. r adversity p. 107 last line but one r. to us p. 115. l. 29. r. whether p. 119. l. 10. r. our p. 121. l. 22. r. condition p. 125. l. 19. r. comforting p. 130. l. 22. r. Lo for Low p. 132. l. 2. r. quiet p. 133. l. 6. blot out been and put it into the end of the next line and l. 8. r. Jonah last line but one r. improbable for impossible p. 135. l. 24. r. so it might and l. 26. r. keep p. 143. l. 18. r. without God p. 144. l. 32. r. encouragements p. 148. l. 28. r. Father p. 149. l. 14. r. they for their and l. 16. r. their for thy and l. 21. r. contrary to their p. 150. l. 27. r. deliver his poor p. 154. l. 23. r. poor p. 156. last line but one r. are p. 160. l. 4. r. be though p. 161. l. 22. r. puts p. 162. l. 2. r. Lord. p. 164. l. 26. r. Gods p. 165. l. 17. r. fed p. 166. last line r. need to p. 173. l. 5. A Goldsmith p. 181. l. 11. r. relations