Cephas these were excellent Preachers and as 1 Cor. 1. the Apostle saith in the end of the third Chapter they were all theirs and therefore they ought to have improved their several Gifts for their spiritual Benefit and Advantage and to have had them all in singular Love for their Works sake and not by preferring of one to forsake all the rest You may observe that they who admire and are addicted to one Teacher or one Party with undervaluing and slighting all others are seldom the most profiting or the most profitable but never the most peaceful Christians Fourthly I might add another ground of this Evil and that is the Itch of Disputing or that which the Apostle calls Vain Jangling of which as one â—aith 1 Tim. 1. 6. well Disputandi pruritus Ecclesiae Scabies The Itch of Disputing is the Churches Scab and I dare add that it is the bane of Holy Conference and the Spawn of Dissension The Apostle saith expresly that from this doting about Questions and 1 Tim. 6. 4. strife of Words cometh Envy Strife Railing Evil-surmisings But I shall say no more of this because I conceive those hot and eager Disputes which tend to Divisions arise either from Pride or Passion which I have spoken of before but modest sober and humble debating of Things neither ingender Strife nor break the Peace And now having discovered the Grounds and Causes of this Distemper what a Happiness would it be if we could prescribe a Remedy In order to this I shall adventure to give Christians one Direction and some few Considerations which may by the Blessing of God be helpful to this purpose The Direction is this That Christians would carefully shun and avoid those things before spoken of which are the chief Causes of Quarrels and Divisions among the People of God for sublata causa tollitur effectus Take away the Cause and you take away the Effect Take heed therefore of Pride and of an over-weaning Opinion of thine Abilities Take heed of a Passionate and of a froward Spirit Take heed of having Mens Persons in Admiration or of Idolizing a Party Take heed that thou delight not in wrangling and disputing if these things were carefully avoided there would be more Peace and sweet Agreement between true Christians But further to promote the cure of this Distemper I shall desire Christians in the fear of God seriously lay to Heart these following Considerations First Consider how highly it is displeasing to the Blessed God First To God the Father It is displeasing to an earthly Father to see his Children always brabbling and fighting each with other and it must needs be more displeasing to our Heavenly Father who is the Father of Mercies to see his Children unmerciful who is the God of Love and Peace to see his Children hating and quarrelling one with 2 Cor. 13. 11. another Secondly It must needs be displeasing to the Lord Jesus Christ to see those for whom he hath shed his Precious Blood to be ready to shed one anothers Blood to see the Members of his Body to rend and tear one another Thirdly It must needs grieve the Holy Spirit of God to see those whom he Eph. 4. 30. hath sanctified those whom he hath sealed for Heaven to be so like graceless Persons to fall out and quarrel by the Way Secondly Consider it is a great dishonour to our Holy Profession How did it Credit Religion and adorn the Gospel When the Multitude of them that Acts 4. 32. believed were of one Heart and of one Soul And when the Heathen could say Ecce quomodo Christiani mutuò se diligunt Behold how the Christians love one another On the other side what a dishonour and reproach is it to Religion when the Professors of it are quarrelling and contending one with the other What Sport doth this make for Prophane and Atheistical Men And how doth it cause the Enemy to blaspheme the Holy Ways of God Thirdly Consider How contrary this is to our Rule and to our Pattern A Christian should take Christ's Word for his Rule and Christ's Example for his Pattern Now First How contrary is this quarrelling Frame of Spirit to our Rule It is Christs new and great Command in the Gospel that his Disciples should John 13. 34. Chap. 15. 12. love one another And this is commanded over and over I know not how often times in the New Testament Be kindly affectioned one to another with Brotherly Rom. 12. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 22. Heb. 13. 1. Gal. 5. 13. 1 Thes 4. 9. Mark 9. 50. Rom. 14. 19. Love in Honour preferring one to another Love the Brotherhood Love one another with a pure Heart fervently Let Brotherly Love continue By Love serve one another You are taught of God to Love one another And as our Rule injoyns us Love so Peace and Quietness Have Peace one with another Let us follow after those things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may Edifie one another The Apostle beseecheth them that they study to be quiet The Apostle Peter tells 1 Thes 4. 11. them That the Ornament of a meck and quiet Spirit is in the sight of God of great 1 Pet. 3. 4. Price So you see clearly how contrary it is to the Rules of the Gospel that Christians should be of a froward unquiet and contentious Spirit The Apostle saith If it be possible as much as in Rom. 12. 18. you lies live peaceably with all Men. And certainly then much more should we live peaceably with those of the Household of Faith Secondly How unlike doth a froward quarrelling Spirit make Christians to Christ Learn of me saith he for I am Mat. 11. 29. meek and lowly Christ was the greatest Pattern of Love and Meekness that ever was in the World he was mild and pitiful to his Enemies And shall we be harsh and severe to our Brethren He loved his Sheep so that he laid down his Life for them and shall his Sheep as if they were turned Dogs bait and bite one another Such a Member of such a Head make Rents and Divisions in his Body which is the Church of God should those who are the Subjects of the Prince of Peace make Wars and Feuds among themselves Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse refelli What Shame is it that such disgrace should be imputed to us and that it cannot be refuted Fourthly Consider the danger of this unnatural quarrel If ye bite and devour Gal. 5. 15. one another take heed that ye be not consumed of one another Are not the Dissensions of those that profess Religion the ready way to betray both themselves and the Cause of God into the Hands of those who wait for their Destruction How justly may God give us up into the Hands of those that hate us if we hate one another Doth not a Father part his fighting
of the Plague of the Heart Well then be perswaded to set out for Eccl. 12. 1. Heaven in the Morning of thy Days sacrifice the first Fruits of thy Time to God Remember thy Creator in the Days of thy Youth Say not with Austin before his Conversion Da Domine Poenitentiam sed non ad huc Lord give me Repentance but not yet But rather cry out as he did after Conversion Lord why not now why not now Plutarch reports of one who in the midst of his Feasting and Jollity received a Letter which gave him notice that his Life was in present Danger he put up the Letter in his Pocket saying Seria Cras I will think of serious Matters to Morrow do not thou say after him least it cost thee the Life of thy Soul as it did him the Life of his Body for he was poyson'd at that Dinner but do thou labour to say as another once did Cur avi in Juventutâ— ut benè viverem in Senectute ut benè moriar I took care in my Youth to livâ— well and in Old-age to die well And learn this Lesson of the Wise Traveller He that sets out most Early will finâ— his Journey most Easie CHAP. V. He that hath Loitered or Deferred setting out his Journey in the Forenoon must double his Pace in the Afternoon I Have endeavoured in the Application of the foregoing Observation to give thee serious Advice to set out in thy Journey towards Heaven in the Morning of thine Age and certainly this would make thy Journey much more easie and comfortable and would free thee from many Fears and Doubts and prevent much Sorrow and Grief of Heart but if this Counsel come too late and thou hast loitered and deferred to begin thy Journey in the Forenoon of thy Day then learn this Lesson of the â—arthly Traveller to make all the speed thou canst in the Afternoon since thou hast set out late make the more haste now thou art on thy Way Run like Ahimaaz who though he did set out after Cushi yet over-ran him 2 Sam. 18. 23. and got before him labour to overtake those who were in Christ before thee give double Diligence to make thy Calling 2 Pet. 1. 10. and Election sure labour to redeem the Time and to abound in the Work of the 1 Cor. 15. 58. Phil. 2. 12. Lord to make thy Religion thy business and to Work out thy own Salvation with Fear and Trembling And what Advice I give to thee herein I desire to give it to my own Soul For I must acknowledge and I desire to do it with shame and sorrow that in the Days of my Youth I walked after the Fashion of this World and after the Lusts of mine own Heart and have even wearied my self in ways of Wickedness but as for the pleasant Ways and peaceful Paths of God my corrupt Heart accounted them too strict and did wholly decline themâ— Oh that my Head were Water and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears that I might weep Day and Night for my great Folly and Madness How can I sufficiently bewail it if it were with Tears of Blood that I should so miserably mispend the Prime of mine Age and put my self so much behind-Hand in my Journey towards Everlasting Happiness that while my Understanding Memory Affections and all the Faculties of my Soul were lively and vigorous and fit for â—he Service of my God I should serve â—ivers Lusts and Pleasures and that while I enjoyed Youth and Health and â—trength I should not take one step in Heavens-way How did Pride and â—assion and Wantonness and Volupâ—uousness devour my precious Time and â—y Heart too How often have I spent â—he whole Day in Hunting or Bowling â—nd a great part of the Night in Danâ—ing and Carding sure this was not the â—ay to Heaven Oh the Infinite Mercy â—nd Patience of my God that had not â—hen cut me off and made me to reap â—he Fruit of mine own Ways But O my Soul how canst thou sufficiently admire the free Grace and infinite Goodâ—ess of my Blessed God! who stopped â—hee in thy Carrear towards Hell and â—urned thy Feet into the Way of Peace Consider now what thou hast to do Bless the Lord O my Soul and all that Psal 103. 1. within me bless his Holy Name Who hath opened thy Eyes at last and hath given thee an Heart to forsake the Ways of Death and to chuse the Way of Life Be heartily humbled and bewail that thou hadst not set out sooner in so Good so Sweet and so Holy a way and that thou didst so linger in Sodom and wer 't Content to abide so long aâ— it were in the Suburbs of Hell anâ— now thou art in the Right Way walâ— on chearfully in it lift up thy feeblâ— Knees and make straight Paths Thinâ— thou canst never do enough for thaâ— God who hath done so much for Theeâ— since he hath set thy Heart at Liberty do thou run the Ways of his Commandments since thou hast done 〈◊〉 much against him in the former paâ—â— of thy Life labour to do the more foâ— him in the remaining Part that sâ— though thou didst set out late thoâ— maist with Safety and Comfort arrive 〈◊〉 thy Journeys end For shame do noâ— thou whose Feet were as Hinds Feet 〈◊〉 the Way of Sin creep on a Snails pacâ— in the Ways of God Now Christiaâ— who readest these Lines if thou haâ— obtained that special Grace and Favouâ— to be Converted and brought into thâ— Right Way in the Days of thy Youtâ— O Live in Admiration of the Riâ—â— Grace of God and shew thy thankfuâ—â—ness by walking chearfully in his Way But thou art in my Condition if thoâ— hast neglected to seek the Kingdom 〈◊〉 God in the first Place and to walk 〈◊〉 the way of Holiness which leads 〈◊〉 that Kingdom as I have done Let us now set to it with our whole Heart Let us now forsake our wicked Ways and Isa 55. 7. unrighteous Thoughts and let us return to â—he Lord and he will have Mercy upon us and to our God and he will abundantly Pardon Let us who have brought forth â—one but bitter Fruits in our Youth bring â—orth the Fruit unto Holiness in our Old-Age and then our End shall be Everâ—asting Life Let us learn this Lesson â—rom our Horse for the Lord sends us â—o School to the Bruit Creatures tho' â—e seem weary and tired yet when he â—nows he is come near his Journeys End â—e will mend his Pace and go with â—ew Mettle and Courage CHAP. VI. A Traveller is many times put out of his Way by false Directions A Christian had need be very Circumspect in his walking and orâ—er his Steps according to the Infallible Rule of God's Word for he will meet with many Seducers and Opposers who will endeavour to put him out of hiâ— way The three grand Seducers 〈◊〉 the Devil a Man 's own Lusts and thâ— World First The
themselves whether they have not a longing desire to get all the Company they can to Heaven with them and it is no wonder if we consider how sweet the Work is and what a blessed Reward is promised to it And they that Dan. 12. 3. be Wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever So now it is clear that herein the Earthly and the Heavenly Traveller agree that both labour to have as much Company with them as they can CHAP. X. A Traveller in his Journey will keep Company with such and such only as are going the same way that he is and to the same Place AND this Christian calls for thy special Imitation if thou art resolved for Heaven thou must keep Company with such as are going Heavens way and shun the Company of those who are going in the contrary way to Hell and Destruction I shall begin with the last first First Thou must shake Hands with those who were thy old Companions in the Ways of Sin Can two walk together except they be agreed And what Amos 3. 3. agreement can there be between the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil between those who are resolved for Heaven and those who are at agreement with Hell Will Sheep flock together with Swine or Doves with Vultures Psal 38. 15. Who would make those his Companions on Earth who must be Companions of the Devil and his Angels in Hell for ever Therefore as the Psalmist saith I have not sat with vain Persons so do thou say I will not walk with vain Persons thou wilt be sure to receive no good by them but wilt be in danger to receive much hurt For it is as impossible for one in pure White to embrace 〈◊〉 Chimney-Sweeper and not to be sulâ—ied as for a Man to hold familiar and â—utimate Converse with Prophane Men and not be defiled That Man is got half Way to Heaven that is rid of his wicked Companions The general Experience of Christians will Seal to this Truth that when God hath changed the Heart and a Man hath changed his Courses he will also change his Companions Paul when the Scales were fallen off his Eyes and he was brought in to the right Way he would have no more Familiarity with his great Friends the Chief Priests nor with his old Persecuting Companions and he left their Friendship So they became his bitter Enemies and when he left persecuting the Saints of God they fell to persecuting of him We read indeed of good Jehosaphat that he entred into a strict League and Intimacy with wicked Ahab but we know that he was out of his Way when he did so and it was like to cost him his Life and though God preserved his Life yet he was displeased with his Act as you may see in the Story 2 Chron. 19. 22. Now this is one thing that thou must imitate the Traveller in namely thou must shun the Company of those who are going in a contrary Way But Secondly Thou must consort with those who are going thy Way thou must not only separate from Sinners but converse with Saints Thou must avoid the Society of the wicked least they hinder thee in thy Way and thou must associate with the Godly that they may further thee in thy Way Thou must shun the one that they may not be a Bridle or Curb to hold thee back Thou must embrace the other that they may be a Spur to quicken thee and put thee forward It is a common Saying and it may be called a Traveller's Proverb An Eloquent or Pleasant Companion on the Way is instead of a Chariot And Facundus comes in Via pro Vehiculo est it may be said that Godly Companions in the Way to Heaven are instead of Elias his Chariot they will be helpful to thee many ways First By their Counsel Secondly By their Holy Example Thirdly By their Heavenly Conference Fourthly By their faithful Reproofs Fifthly By their fervent Prayers First They will forward thee in thy way to Heaven by their good Counsel and Instruction The Heathen Poet speaks like a Christian in this From good men thou wilt learn good things And doth not the Word of God speak to the same purpose from that Divine Proverb He that walketh with wise men Prov. 13. 20. shall be wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed We know that Solomons Wise man is the good or the Godly man and certainly there is no such wise Man in the World as he that is wise for his Soul and for Eternity so here is one benefit thou will reap by keeping Company with the Godly thou wilt have good Counsel and Instruction from them and see what a benefit this was to Jehoash He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehojada the 2 Kings 12. 2. Priest instructed him Secondly Thou wilt be promoted in thy Way by their Holy Example The Examples of good Men are more taking Exempla plus prosunt quam praecepta than their Instruction Their Practices than their Precepts He is like to write the fairest Hand who writes after the fairest Copy If thou canst say with David I am a Companion of all those that feâ—â— Psal 119. 63. the Lord what a Pattern wilt thou have for thy Imitation when thou dost behold their Holy Convesation when thou dost every Day see how careful theâ— are to walk by Rule how Conscientious to perform their Duty before Goâ— and Man How Holily they behavâ— themselves in the World In their Families In their Closets In their Callings In every Condition In every Relation How Chearfully they do How Patiently they suffer the Will of God How can this but stir up thy Mind to an Holy Emulation And what an help will this be to thee in thy Way to Heaven Thirdly They will be helpful to thee by their Heavenly Conference As evil Communication corrupts good Manners so good Communication must needs promote good Manners It is said The Lips Prov. 10. 20. of the Righteous feed many and this is sweet food indeed Christ saith of the Church Thy Lips drop as the Honey-comb Cant. 4. 11 What Sweet and Holy Discourses will the Saints of God have when they meet together How will they provoke one another to Love and good Works How will they communicate their Christian Experiences How will they like Coals kindle one another and raise up one anothers Affections Heaven-ward How will they encourage one another to hold and persevere in the ways of Holiness by setting forth the Joys and the Glory of that Heavenly Country whether they are all going As Prophane Wretches never meet but they harden one another by their lewd and rotten Speeches so the Children of God never do or at least never
should meet but they Edify one another by their gracious Communications We may observe that our blessed Lord and Saviour ascended into Heaven from Holy Conference with his Apostles so was Elijah Mark 16. 19. taken up in his Fiery Chariot while he was in Holy Conference with Elisha Now as they went to Heaven while they were in this Holy Duty so certainly 2 Kings 12. 11. it will be a great help to thee in thy Way to Heaven Fourthly If thou keep Company with the Saints they will afford thee no little help by their Faithful Reproofs Hear what the Wise Man saith It is better to hear the Rebukes of the Wise than to hear Eccl. 7. 5. the Song of Fools Faithful are the Words Prov. 27. 5. of a Friend but the Kisses of an Enemy are deceitful And David saith Let the Righteous Smite me and it shall be a kindness Psal 141. 5 let him Reprove me and it shall be an excellent Oil. And he loved such Prophets as Nathan and Gad who would faithfully reprove him when he went out of his Way and deal plainly with him and tell him Thou art the Man It had been well for Ahab if he had done so to if instead of hating good Micaiah for his faithful dealings he had hated his Four hundred Court-Chaplains who soothed and flattered him to his Destruction I shall relate thee a Story which is not impertinent and may not prove unprofitable There was a Man well known to my self for he Lived in the same Parish with me who being at a Fair or Market some Twelve Miles from his Habitation Selling his Wares did Swear an Oath one who heard it did step to him and whispered in his Ear these or the like Words Friend Cannot you Sell your Commodities without dishonouring God If you should gain a Penny by that Oath and lose your own Soul you would make but a bad Bargain Pray think of it The Man having dispatched his Market Rides homeward pondering all the way upon these Words one while he reasoned with himself This Man was a Stranger to me I know neither his Name nor Face sure he could have no other End nor Aim but my Good Another while he was much affected with the Manner of delivering the Reproof in that he did it so mildly and privately as if he were unwilling to put him to open Shame then he considered the Words and was Convinced that they were a real Truth The Issue was that ever after this he left not only his Swearing but also all his other Sins and became a new Man and did heartily own the Ways of God and walked uprightly in them to his dying Day Now as this should encourage and quicken us to a faithful Discharge of this Holy Duty so it may shew what I am speaking of namely what a special Benefit they enjoy that walk in Society with the Godly who will in any wise rebuke their Brother and not suffer Sin upon him As he Lev. 19. 17. who hath a skilful Physician always in his Company hath a great advantage for the preserving of his bodily Health because he will oppose the very beginnings of the Distemper so hath he a mighty Advantage for his Souls Health who hath a faithful Reprover always in Venienti occurrere morbo Principiis obstare his Company who ingruenti malo occurrere stop him when he takes his first step out of his way and bring him into his right way again Fifthly The Godly will be exceeding helpful to thee by their fervâ—nt Trayers It is the saying of one That that Child that hath a stock of faithful Prayers laid up for him hath a Rich Portion and such a Rich Portion hath every Child of God for he hath a share in the Prayers of all the Saints upon Earth And what a Priviledge is this if we consider what Promises are made to their Prayers Ask and it shall be given Matth. 7. 7. you it is but ask and have if we ask not amiss Verily I say unto you whatsoever John 16. 23. you shall ask the Father in my Name he will give it you The effectual fervent Jam. 5. 16. Prayer of a Righteous Man will avail much and what then will the fervent Prayers of all the Righteous do The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous Psal 34. 15. and his Ears are open to their Cry which is repeated 1 Pet. 3. 12. The eminent Apostle Paul was sensible of this and therefore he begs the Prayers of the Saints for himself and the rest of the Apostles Brethren Pray for us And 1 Thess 5. 25. 2 Thess 3. 1. Heb. 13. 18. Rom. 15. 30. how vehemently doth he beg it I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and for the Love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me And you may see he counted their Prayers to be very helpful and beneficial You also helping together 2 Cor. 1. 11. Phil. 1. 1â— in Prayer I know that this shall turn to my Salvation through your Prayers By these thou mayst see clearly of what singular Benefit the Prayers of the Godly may be to thee that have such prevalency with the Great God And now I have shewed thee how the Christian who is going towards Heaven must imitate the wise Traveller in parting from those who are going a contrary Way and keeping Company with those who are going his Way The Heathen Poet could give this Advice Converse thou not with Men whose Lives are ill But let thy Converse be with good Men still And this agrees with the Holy Word of God and with the Example of the Man after Gods own Heart for he saith Depart from me ye evil Doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Psal 119. 115. I am a Companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts ver 63. CHAP. XI He that Travels in a strange Countrey must look to meet with many Affronts and Injuries with many Troubles and Afflictions THE Children of God are all Strangers and Pilgrims on the Earth Heb. 11. 13. they are out of their own Countrey far from their own home and from their Fathers House and therefore they must not think it strange to be used like Strangers The World had never any good Will for the People of God our blessed Saviour hath told us what we must look for from them The World hateth you because you are not of the World but John 15. 19. I have chosen you out of the World And the Children of Israel met with many Dangers and Difficulties in their Passage towards the Earthly Canaan so do the Children of God in their Passage through the Wilderness of this World towards the Heavenly Canaan And this may be seen in the Example of all the Saints that have gone to Heaven before us I shall Instance in a few
the Word or Way oâ— God that hath not made this Observation that the fall or falls of Gods Children being sanctified by him that can bring Good out of Evil and hath promised That all things shall work together for good to them that love God have done them good They have awakened and quickened them to a more circumspect walking they have been the more lively in their Duties more diligent in doing and more zealous in suffering the Will of God they have been the more careful to keep out Sin ever after As it is with a Garrison if the Enemies have entred within their Works and repulsed them they will fortifie that place where the Enemy made a Breach more strongly than before so it is with a Christian if any of his Senses as for Instance his Ear or his Eye which have been inlets to Sin he will for the future set a stricter Watch upon them he will stop his Ears against all corrupt and unclean Conversation he will with Job Make a Covenant with his Eyes and with David Job 31. 1. Psal 119. 37. beg of God To turn away his Eyes from beholding Vanity If his Tongue cause him to offend he will bridle it up and beg of God to set a Watch before the Door of his Lips If his Heart betrayed him he will henceforth set a double Guard upon it that is he will himself keep it with all Diligence and will earnestly beg of God to undertake the keeping of it The falls of Gods Children have the same Effect upon them that Pauls Letter had upon the Corinthians It makes them sorry after a Godly 2 Cor. 7. 11. Manner and this Godly Sorrow Behold what carefulness it works in them yea what clearing of themselves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal yea what revenge in all things ye have approved your selves to be clear in this Matter So that it may be truly said of true Christians that they get ground by their stumbling and as to this Case We may Answer this Question of our Saviour Affirmatively and say That Men may gather Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles Mat. 7. 16. that God with whom nothing is impossible by sanctifying the falls of his Children which are in themselves Evil can make them to bring forth Fruit as Godly Sorrow Self-abasement Care and Watchfulness Diligence and Activity in the ways of God In a Word they make them more Holy Humble Heavenly-minded ever after Peter's Pride brought him to his Fall and his Fall broke the Neck of his Pride see how Humble he was grown how his Self-confidence was taken down when our blessed Saviour asked him Simon lovest thou me more then these He would no more of that more then these He could tell Christ before Though all Men forsake thee yet will not I. But now he gives a more humble modest Answer Lord thou knowest that I love thee The Spouse in the Canticles when she had by her drowsiness and neglect of her Beloved caused him to withdraw she was restless till she had found him again but when she had recovered him she resolved never to let him go more I found Cant. 3. 4. him whom my Soul loves I held him fast and would not let him go So it is with every Saint after his recovery from a Fall he labours to lay faster hold on Jesus Christ and to keep more close to his Holy Ways all his Life after This is a Truth and a sweet Truth But I dare not leave it without this Caution let none turn this Rich Grace of God into wantonness this precious Cordial into Poyson Would any but a mad-Man go and break his Bones because he hears that a broken Bone well cured is stronger then before Hearken what the Apostle saith Shall we Sin that Rom. 6. 1. Grace may abound God forbid Sure those that belong to God will make a better use of his Grace CHAP. IX Every Traveller is desirous to have as much good Company with him in his Journey as he can especially of his Relations and Friends NO Child of God desires to go to Heaven alone but is of his Saviours Mind Would have all Men come to 1 Tim. 2. 4. the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved And therefore he will be perswading Relations Friends Acquaintance Neighbours Servants and all with whom he converseth to keep him Company in the way of Salvation Certainly who ever is truly converted himself will labour for the Conversion of others When Andrew had found the Messiah or rather was found of him he finds out his Brother John 1. 41. Simon and brings him to Christ When our Saviour had called Philip he John 1. 45. seeks out Nathanael that he might partake of the same Mercy with him If that Rich Man he was Rich indeed on Luke 16. Earth but Poor enough in Hell if he I say was so sollicitous that his Brethren might not come to that Place of Torment where he was much more and upon a better account will those who are going to Heaven themselves be sollicitous that their Brethren may come to that Place of bliss where they Hope to be A Magistrate who is going to Heaven will labour to have all his Subjects to go with him A Minister all his People a Parent all his Children a Master all his Family and all his Servants And every real Christian all his Neighbours and all his Friends First A Godly Ruler or Magistrate who rules in Righteousness and the fear of the Lord will endeavour to bring all his People to fear the Lord and to have all his Subjects become the Subjects of Christ As it was matter of great Joy to David when he went with the Multitude to the House of God so it is to every Gracious Prince when he can carry a great Train with him to Heaven Moses the Servant of the Lord endeavoured to make all the People over whom God had made him Governour the Servants of the Lord he laboured not only to lead them to an Earthly but to the Heavenly Canaan How faithfully doth he acquaint them with the whole Will of God! How solemnly and strictly doth he charge them to walk in all his Ways and keep his Commandments How zealously doth he reprove Deut. 4. them when they go out of the Way And how importunately doth he beg of God to Pardon all their Transgressions Exod. 32. 31 32. and doth not this shew that he desired to have them to Heaven with him Joshua his Successor walked in his Steps and did not only faithfully serve God himself but laboured to make all under his Conduct and Government to serve him also and he was very successful in it for it is written That Israel Josh 24. 31. served the Lord all the Days of Joshua and so careful was he that they should continue walking in the Ways of God that when he was taking leave of
them and this World and was going to Heaven he Summons all the Tribes to appear before him and gives them most Holy and Heavenly Exhortations to keep and to do all that was Written in the Law of Moses and not to turn therefrom to the Right Hand or to the Left but to cleave to the Lord their God as they had done to that Day and much to that Purpose which you may find in the two last Chapters of Joshua by which you may see how careful he was to have them to walk with him in the Way of God while he Lived and that they should persevere in those Ways when he was Dead he desired to have their Company on Earth and in Heaven David a Man after Gods own Heart he walked so exactly in the Ways of God himself there it is said He turned not aside from any thing he commanded him all 1 Kings 15. 5. the Days of his Life save only in the Matter of Uriah And he desired that not only all Israel but that all the World might keep him Company in this Good and Holy Way And therefore he begs of God That his Ways may be known upon Earth and his saving Health among all Psal 67. 2 5. Nations Let the People Praise thee O God let all the People Praise thee And as his Hearts desire was to see all Men walking in the Way to Heaven with him So was his Righteous Soul grieved when he saw People go out of that Way For he saith Rivers of Tears run Psal 119. 136. down mine Eyes because Men keep not thy Law Good Josiah did not think it enough To make a Covenant before the 2 Chron. 34. Lord to walk after the Lord and keep his Commandments with all his Heart and with all his Soul but he caused all Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it he was not Content to serve the Lord alone but he made all Israel to serve the Lord. So that you see that Godly Magistrates will endeavour to have all their Subjects to Heaven with them Though it be said of Earthly Kings that they will admit of no Partners in the Crown yet it may be truly said of those Kings who look after an Heavenly Kingdom that they would have all to partake with them in the Crown of Glory But then Secondly A Godly Minister will labour to carry all his Flock to Heaven with him that he may say when he comes there behold here am I and the Children Eph. 2. 13. which the Lord hath given me How doth he Preach to them Pray for them and weep over them how doth he beat his Brains break his Sleep and even spend his Strength and Spirits that he may bring them to walk in the Way of Holiness which he goes before them in and to be Followers of him as he is oâ— Christ Paul that blessed Apostle waâ— an eminent Example of this what Painâ— did he take What Dangers did he undergo What a Circuit of Ground did he traverse on Earth that he might bring Souls to Heaven and that all that Rev. 15. 19. heard him might be such as he was How zealous was he to have all his Countrey-men to Heaven with him As appears Brethren my Hearts desire Rom. 10. 1. and Prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved and by that Hyperbolical Rom. 9. 6. Expression I could wish my self accursed from Christ for my Brethren my Kinsmen according to the Flesh and this Zeal of his was not confined only to the Jews but extended to the Gentiles also whose Apostle he was he saith He testifies to the Jews and also to the Greeks Repentance towards God and Acts 20. 21. Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ So that he shewed both the Way to Heaven he saith He went about teaching ver 20. them not only Publickly but from House to House That he ceased not to warn every ver 31. one Day and Night with Tears I might instance in all the rest of the Apostles who did all labour abundantly though Paul did labour more abundantly than they 1 Cor. 15. 10. all Nay There is not one faithful Minister of Christ in the World but makes it his Work to draw Souls to that Heaven whither he is going They can all make their Appeal to the People You know how we exhorted every one of you as 1 Thes 2. 11. a Father doth his Children That you walk worthy of God that hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory And when they can prevail with them so to walk it is their Joy and their Crown of Rejoycing We ver 19. may judge without breach of Charity that Minister not to be going to Heaven himself who cares not whether his People go to Heaven or Hell Thirdly There is the same desire in all Family Relations How will the Converted Husband labour with the Wife of his Bosom to draw together in the same Yoke of Christ with him that they may walk hand in hand to Heaven He did never so importunately wooe her to be married to himself as he will wooe her to be married to Christ Fourthly The Parent who is himself going towards Heaven will labour to carry all his Children with him and therefore will Pray with them and for them and will carefully endeavour to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition Eph. 6. 2. of the Lord and to Train them in the way wherein they should go Fifthly A Master of a Family who is walking in Heavens Way himself will have all his Servants to walk in the same Way with him He will labour to make them all the Servants of the Lord Jesus to make his House a little House of God that it may be said of him as it was of Philemon The Church which is in thy House Phil. 2. We know what the Lord saith of Abraham I know Abraham that he will command Gen. 18. 19. his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord. We know also what was Joshua's Resolution I and my House will serve the Josh 24. 15. Lord. And what David's was He that walketh in a perfect Way shall serve me Psal 101. He that worketh Deceit shall not dwell in my House He that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight Fourthly Every real Christian will be earnestly persuading all his Neighbours and Acquaintance to accompany him in his Journey toward Heaven What the Poet saith of the natural Birth may be truly said of the Spiritual Birth Nascitur indigne per quam non nascitur alter Vnworthy to be Born is he By whom no others Born be So he is not worthy to be new Born who is not Instrumental to make others new Born He deserves not the Name of a Christian and sure he hath but the Name who doth not heartily endeavour to draw others to Christ I appeal to all who are going Heaven-ward