Slaughter THis Truth lieth as plainly in the Words as may be and for the prosecution of it I shall propound this plain method First To shew you that in days of slaughter all the Israel of God may not escape Some of them may but others may fall Secondly That the result of the slaughter whoever stands or falls shall be for the raising up Christ and his glory for the getting him a Name Thirdly I shall endeavour to shew you what glory shall be brought to Christ in the end and issue of the slaughters that shall be made in the World And Fourthly That all the glory that shall be put upon the head of Christ shall be in mercy unto those of Israel that out-live and escape the Distresses that shall break in upon the World And then Fifthly The Application will follow First To begin then with the first viz. That in days of slaughter all the Israel of God possibly may not escape some of them may fall to the ground That is clearly intimated in the Text The Branch of the Lord shall be glorious to THEM that ARE escaped of Israel strongly holding out to us that some among Israel may fall I need say nothing to confirm this Truth but onely refer you to our sad experience this day I might bid you go round unto all the Churches of Christ in and about the great City and ask them how it hath fared with the Saints of God this day doubtless you will find every of them reckoning up their Slain and those that have fallen by the Sword of the Angel I might bid you go unto every Soul that knows God in truth in and about this City and see what account they will give you I am perswaded you would find almost every of them making some or other sad complaint for the loss of such and such a Christian Friend and such a one that feared the Lord with whom they had much intimacy and acquaintance this is the general cry among the Saints this day But a little that these proceedings of God may not startle you you shall finde some footsteps of like dealings in the days of old that God hath not walked in an untrodden path but a course he hath sometimes taken in days and times past Sometimes in Scripture you find the Lord threatning of and cutting down onely the Uncircumcised Ones the profane Nations and People of the earth thus Ezek. 32. you have a long Catalogue of the dreadful Judgements of God upon men uncircumcised from ver 20. to vers 30. where he tells you that many of the barbarous Nations that knew not God are gone down to the pit being slain with the sword and he concludes vers 30. There be the Princes of the North all of them and the Zidonians which are gone down with the slain with their terrour they are ashamed of their might and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit c. At other times you find the Lord dealing with his own People as with the uncircumcised and laying them together under the same Calamity and Distress Jer. 9. is a famous instance vers 25. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised God tells us plainly there are such times in which his own People and others may fare alike Calamities and Distresses may make no distinction it may be in some measure unto the Saints as it is to the Sinners You shall find the Lord in Scripture sometimes threatens as heavy things against his Israel as against any Jer. 14. the Prophet begins to beg mercy for Israel O the Hope of Israel ver 8. the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble why shouldst thou be as a Stranger in the Land and as a way-faring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night in which words he seems to intimate that it would be a strange thing a strange way of proceeding if God should turn against his People if thou art the Saviour of thy People wilt thou yet turn thy hand against Israel to whom thou hast been known as a Saviour but God stopt the mouth of the Prophet vers 11 12. Then said the Lord unto me Pray not for this People for their good when they fast I will not hear their cry and when they offer burnt-Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence This very Israel unto whom God was sometimes known as a Saviour yet at this time he took up a resolution concerning them that he would come out against them and consume them by his sore Judgements So Ezek. 33. God threatens some that out-lived and escaped some Distresses vers 27. Thus saith the Lord God As I live surely they that are in the Wastes shall fall by the Sword and him that is in the open Field will I give unto the Beasts to be devoured and they that be in the Forts and in the Caves shall die of the Pestilence This is spoken of Israel And those of Israel that as yet were not carried away captive God comes out against them with this purpose and determination that though they did remain and were preserved they should at length fall So Jer. 44.13 some there were that in the time of Israel's Captivity fled into Egypt for refuge and what says he I will punish them that dwell in the Land of Egypt as I have punished Jerusalem by the Sword by the Famine and by the Pestilence observe God sometimes punisheth Jerusalem the Seat of his own People with these great and sore Judgements Sometimes if his own People shall think to take Sanctuary and refuge themselves here and there it shall not avail but the hand of the Lord shall overtake them Let me tell you not onely some of Gods Israel may fall by slaughter but some of the principal of his People some of the choice ones of the flock Jer. 25.34 35. Howl ye Shepherds and cry and wallow your selves in the Ashes ye principal of the Flock for the dayes of your Slaughter and of your Dispersion are accomplished and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel and the Shepherds shall have no way to flee nor the Principal of the Flock to escape We are apt to say when we see God terrible in his doings to the children of men and terrible in his dealings to his own People What do these things mean We are ready to look upon such Providences as things uncouth strange and unheard-of but we finde it is not out of the course and method that God hath observed heretofore So that I may conclude in respect of common calamity it sometimes falls according to that Eccl. 9.2 All things come alike unto all there is one event to the Righteous and to the Wicked to the Good to the Clean and to the Unclean to
him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not As is the Good so is the Sinner and he that sweareth as he that feareth an Oath But if the Reason be demanded How comes it to pass and whence is it that any of God's Israel should fall in times of slaughter 1. Not to insist upon the Prerogative of God which might be the first thing whereby he is Lord of all his Creatures and his own People as well as others and therefore may dispense unto all according to the good-pleasure of his own Will 2. In the second place the ground of it may be this viz. That God cannot keep his Covenant with his People sometimes at any cheaper rate he cannot be faithfull sometimes to his Promise with his own People unless he let them feel some smarting Rod and taste of that Cup of which he makes his Enemies drink a full Draught God by Covenant stands bound to purge out the folly that is bound up in the hearts of his Children and truly sometimes lusts in the Soul are like rust in Iron deeply eat in and cannot well be gotten out without some severe and ruff usage 3. But thirdly The main Reason the grand and principal Ground why some of Israel may perish in times of common Calamity is this they sin as the world and so God leaves them to suffer with and as the world their provocations are like the wickeds therefore he is pleased to suit out an external punishment something like that that falls upon the rest of the world the Lord saith that sometimes the sin of his own People is not onely as the sin of the world but greater Jer. 5.28 They are waxen fat they shine yea they overpass the deeds of the wicked It is spoken of God's Israel The truth is though the sin of Saints shall never damn them they are interested in Christ and there is no condem nation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 and herein is much of the overflowing Grace of the new Covenant that notwithstanding the sin of Saints may have some such provoking ingredients as the sin of sinners hath not that yet sinners shall perish eternally under their sins but the Saints shall not come into condemnation yet I say the sin of a Saint may lay him under an external dispensation with the sinner the Saints sin against such light as few sinners do and such love as no sinner can and that makes their provocation more provoking than the sins of sinners When it is thus among the Lord's People the Lord is pleased to let them or some of them at least to fall by sore slaughter It is upon such a supposition that God threatens his People in Deut. 28.58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this day that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful Name THE LORD THY GOD Then the Lord will make thy Plagues wonderful and the Plagues of thy seed even great Plagues and of long continuance and sore sickness and of long continuance The case supposed here is this That God's People may not keep to the Law of the Lord that they may not carry it like a people that know something of God that they may not carry it as a people that know what dread there is in the Name JEHOVAH which is a Name that speaks the Great God able to meet with avenge himself on all them that walk not with him in Truth and Uprightness that they may not carry it as those that have intrest in the Lord Intrest in the Lord doth not give a liberty unto sin but is the greatest engagement unto Holiness and souls may forget that Obligation under which they lie those bonds of God that are upon them that filial Child-like obedience which they are to render unto their Father and upon such defects God threatneth as you have heard Take his threatning in a few particulars and you shall see what sin may bring upon the Lord 's own People he threatneth first Plagues yea all kind of Plagues Judgements of every sort 2dly Such as should be wonderfull that should be full of terrour and amazement unto all that look upon them as God sometimes speaks to his People and tells them he will make them an astonishment to all round about them yea such as should make them a wonder unto themselves 3dly He threatens they should lie under Plagues of long continuance year after year we are apt to think a judgment must be terminated to and ended in such a space of time but God can stretch it out upon his own even for a long season 4thly All the Judgements of Egypt shall come upon them all the Judgements they were afraid of and proved a terrour unto their souls 5thly They might fall under such Judgements as they had not heard or at any time read of before he would create trouble to them Certainly if it be according to that word Lam. 3.33 that the Lord doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men though they are but the children of men the Lord doth not easily afflict them not at every turn contend with them much less will he upon light and slight occasions contend with his own People and the choicest of his own but when he finds them under provocations he is pleased thus to break out against them Observe that where you find God coming out to cut off his People by a slaughtering stroke you shall find some notable provocation was the procuring cause it was not for nothing Deut. 28.21 The Lord shall make the Pestilence cleave unto thee until he hath consumed thee from off the Land whither thou goest to possess it It was spoken to Israel upon what occasion the 15th verse will tell you But it shall come to pass if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe to do all his Commandments and his Statutes which I command thee this day that all these Curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee And so Ezek. 5.11 12. Wherefore as I live saith the Lord God surely because thou hast defiled my Sanctuary with all thy detestable things and with all thine abominations therefore will I also diminish thee neither shall mine eye spare nor will I have any pity A third part of thee shall die by the Pestilence and with Famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee and a third part shall fall by the Sword round about thee and I will scatter a third part into all the winds and will draw out a Sword after them c. Here are dreadful threatnings and it was upon great provocations there were great turnings aside from God corrupting his Worship polluting his Sanctuary the fire of God's jealousy burns hot about his Sanctuary and if he find his People in the matter of his Worship corrupted he breaks out against them with great severity It was upon some such account David shunned the
is said in vers 25. You shall serve the Lord your God and he shall bless thy bread and thy water and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee The Angel shall cut off the Canaanites but I shall take sickness away from thee And if you consider what God hath promised to do for his People in the time to come Psal 103.6 7. you find cause to believe that this is the way that God delights to take The Lord executeth Righteousness and Judgment for all that are oppressed he made known his wayes unto Moses and his acts unto the children of Israel Mark God saith he will act for his People he will free them from oppression from bonds and from troubles but how He made known his wayes unto Moses and his acts to the children of Israel But you will say How I will tell you and God hath told you long ago he told Moses and Israel not onely what he would do for them in their day but what he would do and how he would proceed for good unto his People in after-dayes In the dayes of Moses God wrought for his People and led them into much good by slaughter and this is the way that God still intends to take Psalm 72. entituled A Psalm for Solomon concerning the glory that was put upon Solomon in the person of Solomon Christ is eminently intended and his Glory and Government is eminently pointed at observe which way it is that Solomon and Christ shall come to their Glory and come to do good to his People He shall judge the Poor of his People he shall save the children of the Needy he shall break in pieces the Oppressors it is in a way of slaughter So Isa 30. with abundance of Scriptures more that I might name you shall find there what the Lord saith he will do There shall be upon every high hill rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter when the Towers shall fall Saith God there shall be a day of great slaughter What shall the slaughter do the Towers shall fall which are types and representations of the high great things of this World that seem to have great strength and to be almost impregnable But in the day of great slaughter the Towers shall fall And what will the effect thereof be it will be glory to Christ and good unto his People ver 26. it is in the dayes that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his People in which the light of the Moon shal be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days Thus will Christ glorifie himself and do his People good by slaughter So Isa 34.6 he gives you an account of dreadful slaughter The Sword of the Lord is filled with Blood it is made fat with fatness and with the Blood of Lambs and Goats with the fat of the Kidneys of Rams for the Lord hath a Sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea Here shall be great slaughter and what shall be the effect of it you shall see in the 12th vers They shall call the Nobles thereof unto the Kingdom but none shall be there and all her Princes shall be nothing that is the glory that shall come to Christ shall so out-shine and out-do the glory of all the great Ones of the World that they shall be look'd upon as if they were not his glory that shall come to him through the slaughter shall so surpass them in all their glory I might add Isa 33.10 c. The Earth mourneth and languisheth Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down Sharon is like a Wilderness and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits Now will I arise saith the Lord now will I be exalted now will I lift up my self Now look what follows and you shall find the way by which he will be exalted it is through slaughter Ye shall conceive chaff ye shall bring forth stubble your breath as fire shall devour you and the People shall be as the burning of Lime as Thorns cut up they shall be burnt in fire Ah my Friends we may think our selves secure and out of danger because upon our feet but alas Christ that is to make himself glorious how easily is he able to pull down the pride of man and to lay low his lofty looks it is a notable word that you have Job 24.22 c. He draweth also the Mighty with his power when He riseth up mark that is to plead his Cause no man is sure of his life though it be given him to be in safety whereon he resteth yet his Eyes are upon their Ways Men may think themselves safe and secure and that which is their strength and confidence may be untouched for the present but yet the Lords Eyes are upon their ways and vers 24. They are exalted for a little while but are gone and brought low they are taken out of the way it is done in a little time as the tops of the Ears of Corn Those that stand in the way of Christs Exaltation they are exalted but it is but for a little while and in a little while at short warning Christ can throw them down and cut them off as the tops of the Ears of Corn. You know a little thing will strike of the top of an Ear of Corn when it is fully ripe Christ can with a little stroke make all glory to perish that his own may be advanced So that I say it is Christ's way and method to get himself glory and do his People good by Slaughter yea let me tell you This Plague and Pestilence is a means by which God will work out his own glory We it may be look upon it as a thing that comes of course once in forty years or such a matter but truly this is a sad mistake and in the 89th Psalm a Psalm in which David is much concerned but in and under the Person of David Christ is intended and God when he promiseth the Kingdom to David that he would secure the Kingdom unto him he intends Christ especially that he would make Christ great and glorious in the World and which way will he do it vers 23. And I will beat down his Foes before his face and plague them that hate him Junius renders the word thus Osores ejus plagâ afficiam we may translate it I will smite them that hate him for plaga a stroke is put for any kinde of stroke or smiting but properly and more especially for this Judgment of the Plague and I think so it is to be taken here I will send this Judgement abroad that I may cut off and take away the haters of my Son that I may establish him in the glory that I have designed for him To which add Hab. 3.2 where the Prophet petitions the Lord O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid O Lord revive thy work
also it cannot be otherwise Secondly Christs Glory must needs be for the good of his People in that all the Glory he is intrusted with as Mediator it is in their names for their sakes and for their uses he is Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1.22 I may therefore say unto Saints as they in Cant. 3.11 Go forth O ye Daughters of Jerusalem and behold King Solomon with the Crown wherewith his Mother crowned him in the day of his Espousals in the day of the gladness of his Heart Go forth and look upon by the Eye of Faith that Glory that shall be upon the Head of Christ and look upon it with comfort you may account it a joyous spectacle for it is that that shall work out your Mercy if your hearts be upright with God A little further to shew you what benefit shall come unto Saints by Christs being glorious 1. When Christ is glorious glorious Liberty shall come unto the Saints We are now a company of inthralled Creatures not only unto our own lusts but the lusts of men you have a notable expression Rom. 8.21 The Creature it self also shall be delivered into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God The Creatures of the Earth are now in bondage unto the lusts of Men our Rayment is in bondage to our Pride our Meat to Gluttony our Drink to Drunkenness and other things the like the Creatures are held in slavery unto the lusts of Men but there is a time when they shall have glorious Liberty when men shall not be able at their pleasure to inthrall and oppress them Psal 72.12 14. the Psalmist speaking of Christ in his glory saith of him That he shall deliver the Needy when he crieth the Poor also and him that hath no helper he shall redeem their Souls from death and violenee and precious shall their Blood be in his sight It is worth your observing that the whole design of Christ is but to do his People good to save them and therefore at the 4th verse of that Psalm it is said He shall save the Children of the needy and particularly this service he shall do them he shall give them glorious Liberty 2. This shall be their Glory their Reproach shall be wiped away the People of God have been a reproached People greatly reproached but their reproach shall be rolled away When Israel came to Canaan they were circumcised and the place where they were circumcised was called Gilgal and the reason given Josh 5.9 For there he rolled away the reproach of Egypt the lot of the Saints is to be reproached in Egypt but there shall be a time and day and a Place also which he will name Gilgal a time and place when and where he will roll away the reproach of his People For the present sometimes God gives his People unto reproach as you have it Isa 43.28 Therefore I have profaned the Princes of the Sanctuary and have given Jacob to the curse and Israel to reproaches but there is also a time when reproaches shall be taken away Then will the Lord be jealous for his Land and pity his People yea the Lord will answer and say unto his People Behold I will send you Corn and Wine and Oyl and ye shall be satisfied therewith and I will no more make you a reproach among the Heathen 3. The Glory of the Saints shall be this They shall be raised up to much height and dignity that the greatest of all the ungodly ones of the Earth shall bow before them for which take one place insted of many Isa 60.14 The Sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soals of thy feet and they shall call thee The City of the Lord the Zion of the Holy One of Israel It were great arrogancy for any of the Saints to hope for such a thing as this had not God spoken it and it is as great infidelity not to believe it since the mouth of the Lord hath uttered it 4. They shall have this Glory More eminent and uninterupted Communion with God and Christ then ever yet they had and this is the thing that every good Soul longs for long for it they do that is certain and when they are hinder'd in that enjoyment it is their great burthen when their Tabernacles are taken down their communion's broken this is that that makes them go mourning but the Lord will give his People more eminent and glorious communion with himself and his Son then they have yet partaken of It is said Isa 60.7 with respect to a time yet to come The Flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee the Rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee they shall come up with acceptance on mine Altar and I will glorifie the House of my Glory Observe it the Glory of the Temple of old was the presence of God in the Temple he was said to fill the House with his Glory the communion that the Saints had with God was the Temple-Glory God meeting with them in his Appointments and Administrations and now he promiseth here I will glorifie the House of my Glory I will fill my Churches and Saints with more Glory then yet they have seen the meaning is they shall have more of my presence with them and more abundant communion and fellowship with me then heretofore Isa 66.11 it is said They shall be delighted with the abundance of her Glory that ye may suck and be satisfied with the Brests of her Consolation that ye may milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her Glory 5. And in the last place this shall be the Glory of Saints Even their glorious Union one with another and this shall be their mercy in the day of Christ in Zeph. 3.8 9. the Lord saith Therefore wait ye upon me until the day that I rise up unto the prey for my determination is to gather the Nations that I may assemble the Kingdoms to pour upon them mine indignation even all my fierce anger for all the Earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousie for then will I turn to the People a pure language that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord to serve him with one consent It is the great cry among the People of God O that we could come to Unity to love as Brethren all cry for want of it though few endeavour after it as they ought to do but when we have done our utmost endeavours which is our Duty yet it will not rise up to any great height till Christ come in his Glory Wait upon ME until I arise to the prey to do gloriously in the World and then I will work thus and thus that you may come to serve me with One Consent They mistake greatly that think to force People to a Union to make them all of one mind it is the work of
EBEN-EZER OR Profitable Truths after Pestilential Times Being some MEDITATIONS Upon ISAIAH 4.2 SHEWING The MERCY and the DUTY Of Those that have Escap'd the Slaughtering Pestilence As also That all Slaughter shall end in the Exaltation of CHRIST and the setting up of HIS KINGDOM Together with An Epistolary Preface To the Citizens of London Westminster By THOMAS BLAKE London Printed in the Year 1666. To the Citizens of LONDON and WESTMINSTER A few Things are humbly offered needful to be considered SIRS IN this day of the Lords Controversie a Cup of trembling hath been put into your hands and you have drank deep of it Such Slaughters rarely if ever have been within your Walls since their Foundations were first laid The memorable year of Twenty Five must not be compar'd with Sixty Five either for the number of the Slain the continuance of the Visitation or such unwonted reiterated Increases and Decreases And O that suitable to the dread of the Dispensation Effects might be wrought upon all your Hearts that the Lord may be pacified towards you and may not add to this Plague seven other and worse Plagues You are now comforting your Hearts with thoughts that the bitterness of Death is past your Trade will return and the Cloud that hath darkened your glory and splendor will vanish To which I heartily say Amen the Lord do so But if I thought it would be born and kindly received I would take leave to tell you I have my fears fears not bottom'd upon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostles expression is 1 Tim. 4.7 profane and old Wives fables but upon Considerations as I judge more solid An account of which be pleased to take in a few words First Cities every way famous have had their Periods all worldly glory carrieth decaying Principles in its bowels It may as the Sun go forth in its beauty and strength until it climb to its Meridian and thenceforward it will decline until its lustre set in obscurity As they say of the World so of Cities they have their Youth and Manhood in which they are in their strength and vigour and after that Old Age until they return to the dust out of which they were raised Tyre a City of strength called the strong City Josh 19.29 an ancient and enriching City yet from the Lord went forth a Commandment to destroy it Isa 23.11 Babylon once the Metropolis of a mighty Empire and consequently stood upon suitable advantage-ground for its security yet could not bear up it self against that Sentence Isa 14.4 Thou shalt take up this Proverb against the King of Babylon and say How hath the Oppressor ceased the golden City ceased Ceased to be as well as to oppress It is the destiny of some that when they cease to oppress they must cease to be also Jerusalem the beloved City honour'd by the King of Heaven that Fountain of all true Honour against her cries the Prophet Isa 3.8 Jerusalem is ruined and Judah is fallen God commands and threatneth concerning Tyrus Ezek. 26.4 Break down her Towers I will also scrape her dust from her and leave her like the top of a Rock not so much as any Monument should remain Jamseges est ubi Troja fuit Others their memory is perished Psal 9.6 Thou hast destroyed Cities their memorial is perished with them Secondly Sins great Provocations have been precedaneous unto and the procuring Causes of the ruine of Cities God is known to be long-suffering to all among whom he is known he doth not strike much less destroy without a cause nor yet for every cause God can bear long yet will he not bear always Wickedness may in places of eminency as Diseases in the Body lurk up and down for a season till by continuance they grow strong seiz the Vitals and down goes the House of Clay Sin drowned the old World and burnt Sodom and Gomorrha and they are left upon record as Examples of Divine Vengeance to put a restraint upon the exorbitancies of sinful Cities Every publick sin of Cities as they are a Body and Community or the sin of them that are the visible owned authority in them acting as such is a stroke at their Foundations and many such may soon level them with the ground There are Prognosticks of decaies approaching Death not onely in the Natural but in Bodies Politick also The Death-Marks upon Cities of old have been such as these 1. Pride God resisteth the Proud is true concerning a Nation City or Man It it was Moabs height that laid him low We have heard of the pride of Moab he is exceeding proud therefore shall Moab howl for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn Isa 16.6 Tyrus said I am of perfect Beauty Ezek. 27.3 thence was she defaced and brought to nothing Foelicissima Dicta foret si non sibi visa fuisset 2. Oppression especially oppression and cruelty towards the Lords own People Wo to the oppressing City Zeph. 3.1 Rev. 18.21 With violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all and why so that follows vers 24. In her was found the Blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth God will make inquisition for Blood especially for the Bloood of his Abels that will cry all that have had their hands in it call themselves by what name of distinction they will will be found to be Brats of Babylon and they and their Cities may fall thereby One of the great Sins that came up into remembrance against Tyre and Zidon was this The Children of Judah and the Children of Jerusalem have ye sold to the Grecians that ye might remove them far from their border Joel 3.6 3. Treachery and Unfaithfulness Amos 1.9 For three transgressions of Tyrus and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because they dilivered up the whole Captivity of Edom and remembred not the Brotherly Covenant 4. False-Worship Jer. 19.11 I will break this City as one breaketh a Potters Vessel that cannot be made whole again and they shall bury in Tophet till there be no place In Tophet they sinned in their corrupt Worship and there they must fall by this their iniquity Certainly wo to them who after Light received and solemn Covenants made dare to corrupt the Worship of God and defile the Sanctuary with their detestable things wo to them whether Persons or Places 5. The baseness of pretended spiritual men There is a wo against Jerusalem Zeph. 3.1 and why Her Prophets are light and treacherous Persons her Priests have polluted the Sanctuary they have done violence to the Law HER Prophets and Priests saith God not MINE some of their own making they do wickedly and would wrest the the Word and labor to make it speak for their abominations 6. Contempt of the Gospel This evidently was Jerusalems undoing They killed the Prophets and stoned them that were sent unto them and upon
their hearts under the sad thoughts of past and what future slaughters may be and to commend Saintship to Sinners that they may be desirous to get into that number I have avoided affected strains and Jingles that sound of words which in my apprehension are but dead flies that corrupt the Boxes of otherwise precious Oyntment that the design may be heeded more then the expression and have sought to speak something that may be suitable to every case I have not much more to adde Onely 1. If what I have written fall into the hands of any in any place not reached by the hand of God this day Remember the cup doth many times go round your turn may yet be to come Be not secure 2. Let none be discouraged though you seace sudden wished effects of the slaughter the Lord hath made God is in his way and will do his work with sober speed He could have made the World in one hour but took six days for it God saith of Zidon Ezek. 28.23 24. He will execute Judgments in her he will send into her Pestilence and Blood in her streets and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the Sword on her on every side The issue of this Vers 28. There shall be no more a pricking Brier unto the house of Israel nor any grieving Thorn of all that are round about them that despise them The Promise is true Faith and Patience is our work 3. If thou art a Soul that knowest the Plague of thine own Heart and art in some measure delivered from it thou hast enough and God will bear thee in his Arms and bring thee to himself however things may be in the World I have this onely to request of thee That thou wouldst look this little Piece through and if one page suit not thy case another may If it serve thy spiritual Welfare in any measure Give God the Glory and beg that he may feel the power of all Truth upon his heart which he recommends to thee and is thine to serve thee for Jesus sake T.B. EBEN-EZER Or Some MEDITATIONS Upon ISAIAH 4.2 In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the Fruit of the Earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel THat you may have a little light into these words it will be expedient to consider two things 1. What we are to understand by the Branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth and 2ly To what Time and what Persons these words do relate As for the former you shall find in Scripture there is one who is called the Branch Zac. 6.12 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts saying Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH and Zac. 3.8 For behold I will bring forth my Servant the Branch in these Scriptures and also in the Scripture I am upon by Branch we are to understand Jesus Christ and that we are to take Christ to be thereby intended is evident from Jer. 23.5 6. Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute Judgement and Justice in the Earth in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness or Jehovah our Righteousness He that is the Lord our Righteousness is this Branch and that is certainly the Lord Jesus He is called the Branch of the Lord upon the account of his Divine Nature that he is the Son of God the onely begotten of the Father that lay in his Bosom from Eternity as also because he was a Branch growing out and appearing in his glory and splendour before the Sons of Men by the appointment and Decree of the Father As for the Fruit of the Earth who may that be You find sometimes in Scripture Jesus Christ is said to be a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a Branch growing out of his Roots Isa 11.1 And there shall come forth a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a Branch shall grow out of his Roots He is so called upon account of his humane Nature as he is Man he is of the Seed of David and upon the same score he is here termed the Fruit of the Earth Christ the Branch of the Lord as he is Man is of earthly extract and Original Man is of the Earth and Christ as Man is made of the same mould with the rest of the Children of Men he was made Man and being of the Seed of the Woman he is here called the Fruit of the Earth Thus much for answer to the first Enquiry Who is meant by the Branch of the Lord and the Fruit of the Earth Secondly To what Time and Persons do these Words refer For there is a certain time unto which these words have relation in That day in what day is that it is a day of slaughter a day of great calamity for it refers unto the end of the foregoing Chapter without all dispute in the 25 and 26 Verses it is said Thy men shall fall by the Sword and thy mighty in the war and her Gates shall lament and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground it relates to a time when much slaughter should be made slaughter to a desolation when men should be exceedingly weeded out of the Earth then shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the Fruit of the Earth excellent and comely If that be the issue of Desolation we need the less matter it But unto what Persons doth this word relate I answer primarily unto the Jewish People and unto those among them that should survive and out-live the Calamities that do befall them it relates unto the surviving People among the Jews The Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the Fruit of the Earth excellent and comely for them that escape and them that escape of Israel It relates secondarily I suppose and may indifferently have some respect to all the People of God or more largely to all those unto whom the Gospel of Christ shall come and they be thereby prevailed upon as Israel in Scripture was a name unto all the Jewish Nation unto whom the Oracles of God were committed and they owned a subjection to them so it may have respect unto all in all times of the Gospel brought over to Christ who falling under sore Calamities have this grace allowed them to survive and out-live those days of distress This may serve to give light into the words and two Truths I would note from them which lie fairly in them and which I judge as pertinent unto the present circumstances under which we fall as any in any one Scripture that I know of in the Book of God Doctr. 1. That it is a proper issue and a good effect of slaughtering-Judgement upon them that have escaped the
slaughter to have Christ become glorious and excellent unto them And 2. That the issue of all those dreadful destroying Judgements that shall break forth in the world shall be the putting of glory upon the head of Christ and that glory upon Christ shall be to the good and benefit of those of Israel that shall escape the slaughter I shall begin with the first namely That it is a good issue of Slaughtering-Judgements upon them that out-live such calamities that Christ is become glorious and excellent in their accounts The Words do certainly relate to a Time of great slaughter such a slaughter that Jerusalem which was once a very populous City and the places of the greatest concourse in it which were the Gates for in the Gates Justice was executed and thither was a confluence of persons from all parts but such should be the slaughter that her Gates should lament and mourn and become desolate at this time there were some should escape God useth to have a remaining Remnant when his displeasure is at highest and what should this sad Judgement work upon them that should remain The Branch of the Lord should become glorious among them You read in the 78 Psalm vers 34 35. When he slew them then they sought him and they returned and enquired early after God and they remembred that God was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer When he slew them that is when he came forth with slaughtering Judgements as he did sometimes against Israel and particularly God smote them with Plagues more then once now what did they that remained and were left alive do they began to have more high and awful thoughts of the Lord then before the esteem of him was a little raised in their hearts they remembred he was their Rock and the high God their Redeemer thus far they went well onely that which followeth spoiled all in vers 36 37. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lied unto him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant if really the esteem of the Lord had been raised in their hearts they had been an excellent People and the Lords Judgements had wrought kindly You shall find the Lord complains for the want of such a spirit in Hos 11.7 God called there to the People and how He called by mercy I drew them with the cords of a man with the bands of love vers 4. that is I treated them kindly he called them by Judgements as you see in vers 6. The Sword shall abide on his Cities and shall consume his Branches and devour them what did God expect should be the answer unto his Call and the fruit of all his Dispensations it was that they should have exalted him honoured him and admired him at a greater rate then before but because they did not God took it ill and reckoned that his Providences had not a kindly reception among them Psal 2.6 Yet says he have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion which words are not onely a Prophecy concerning that Kingdom Christ shall have but declarative of that Kingdom he hath viz. his Providential Kingdom by which he manages and governs affairs in the World now in the management of it what doth he do sometimes as in vers 9. he rules them with a Rod of Iron and dashes in pieces like a Potters Vessel but what should they do that should out-live such Providences you shall see the Fruit that should grow upon this Root Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way Christ expects when he is abroad with his Iron Rod and dashing Earthen Vessels to pieces as he hath this day they that stand on their feet not dashed to pieces as others of the same mould he expects higher thoughts of himself and to be more esteemed by them and if he fail of his expectation let them remember that they are but Clay and therefore in the way not out of danger Jer. 51.50 Ye that have escaped the Sword go away stand not still remember the Lord afar off and let Jerusalem come into your mind God was abroad with the Sword it may be the material Sword and it may be with such a Sword of the Angel as he hath lately been cutting withall what should the Escaped do Remember the Lord Remember him you will say what is that Give me leave to open it unto you a little because I shall use the term again anon To remember the Lord implies two things among others 1. To have the heart wrought up into the fear of the Lord to sanctifie his Name Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy that is sanctifie the Sabbath so remember the Lord that is fear him let his Name be great his honour be dear unto thee Remember thy Creator what is that it is Give up thy self unto the Lord remember who he is and what he is and what he calls for from thee when a People sin against the Lord they are said to forget him many times so suitably to remember him is to fear him to honour him and lift up his Name 2. To remember the Lord is to love and delight in him to have a great esteem of him as the Lord saith Jer. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant Child since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him Gods remembring Ephraim was his love to and delight in Ephraim so our remembring the Lord is our loving of and delighting in him and this is the frame that should be found upon the hearts of them that escape sore Calamities To fear and magnifie to love and delight in him This indeed is a right Spirit and it is called for elsewhere Ezek. 6.9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the Nations whither they shall be carried Captives Time was when Israel had few and slight thoughts of God their Redeemer but when GOD had been at work among them by severe strokes those that did escape of them their Spirits should be much amended much altered for the better they should come and love him and fear him so as they did not before So Isa 10.20 And it shall come to pass in that day what day was that a day of great slaughter for vers 19. The rest of the Trees of his Forrest shall be few that a Child may write them a Child that is but a bad Arithmetician should be able to number them that should remain the smallness of them should be such It shall come to pass that the Remnant of Israel and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob shall no more again stay upon him that smote them but shall stay upon the Lord the holy One of Israel in truth staying upon the Lord is an Act of Faith and Acts of Faith do greatly glorifie Christ and speak the Heart much delighted in him if thou be'st not taken with him thou
wilt never act Faith upon him But this was the Fruit that this escaping Remnant should bring forth and is that which God expects from preserved ones in a day of slaughter All this confirms the Truth I have been driving at and in the prosecution of it I shall propose two things to be spoken to 1. To show what Engagement there lieth upon them that escape in a day of slaughter to be thereby led unto an esteem of Christ why it should render this Branch of the Lord and Fruit of the Earth beautiful and glorious in their eyes 2. When those that do escape may conclude their escaping hath this issue and effect upon their Souls And 3. Try what Improvement we may make of this Truth First How doth our escaping in a time of Calamity lay an engagement upon the heart to prize and value Christ the more I suppose it is very natural I would evidence it in four or five things 1. Christ hath the management of all Providences and surely then of such as these a Sword goeth not thorow a Land nor a Plague thorow a City Country or Town but Christ hath a great hand in it Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand the Father out of his great love unto his Son and confidence he hath in him that he will do nothing but what is well hath committed the management of all Providences into his hands he hath given him the power of life and death in the World and where he will he spares and where he will he slayes the People of God represented under the notion of the two Witnesses it is said of them that they have a kinde of power to kill People as they will Rev. 11.6 These meaning the two Witnesses have power to shut Heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophecy and have power over Waters to turn them into Blood and to smite the Earth with Plagues as often as they will but their power is but in a way of Prayer through the great interest they have in the Lord and his Christ they can do much and carry a great stroke for or against a People But now the power of Christ is absolute he can do and govern in this matter as he pleaseth and why hath he this power look Joh. 5.22 23. The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son by judging here I humbly conceive Ruling and Government ordering and disposing of things in the World is intended which the Father doth not do without but by the Son the matter is left unto him and why That all men might honour the Son even as they honour the Father therefore is this Government committed unto the Branch of the Lord that it might gain him the more esteem We that have seen so much of Christ in these his Dispensations ought it not to have this effect upon our hearts to teach us to honour the Son as we honour the Father Especially 2. Considering That that Escape which you and I have in a day of Calamity it is through the Son if thou do'st escape this Branch of the Lord hath a great hand in it however we may rob Christ of his honour and attribute it unto second Causes yet indeed and in truth the matter is in Christs hand You read of a Retiring-Chamber for the People of God in days of Calamity Isa 26.20 Come my People enter into your Chamber and shut the doors about you hide your selves for a little moment until my indignation be over-past Are there Retiring-Chambers in the day of Gods Controversie when he comes to contend and smite down unto the Earth I might ask the question Where are they and say as David Psal 139.7 c. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit or whither shall I flee from thy presence if I ascend up into Heaven thou art there if I make my bed in Hell behold thou art there if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me where may a man be hid in the day of Gods anger I would say Retire into Christ he is a Rock of shelter he is the Munition of Rocks where the Soul shall be hid it is the man Christ Jesus shall be a Covert from the storm a hiding place in the day of distress suitable unto which the Psalmist speaks in Psalm 32.7 Thou art my hiding-place thou shalt preserve me from trouble thou shalt compass me about with Songs of Deliverance Soul art thou preserved it is Christ hath been thy hiding place There were some in the days of David's Calamity scoffed at him and bid him flee as a Bird unto his Mountain but see what he saith Psal 11.1 In the Lord I put my trust how say ye to my Soul Flee as a Bird to your Mountain It was a Psalm penn'd in the time when he fled from Saul as I conceive and it is as if he should say It is true I have recourse sometimes unto this and that Mountain and I do go up and down from place to place to be hid from the hand of Saul but I go as God leads me as Christ goes before me and where-ever I am and which way so ever I look it is the Lord is my Refuge from him I expect my security You read Ezek. 1.26 of a Throne and upon the Throne there was one like unto a man that Man was the Man Christ Jesus the Throne upon which he sat is the Throne of his Providential Kingdom where he sits and governs all things in the World and where he sits to order all the matters in the following part of this Prophecy Now see what he doth upon this Throne of his And the Lord said unto him that is the Man cloathed with Linen that had the Writers Inkhorn by his side Go through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the Abominations that be done in the midst thereof and to the others he said Go ye after him through the City and smite let not your eye spare neither have ye pity slay utterly old and young both maids and little children and women but come not near any upon whom is the mark c. I gather hence that it is Christ hath the marking men for destruction or preservation he upon the Throne of his Providential Kingdom governs and orders for preserving or destroying in a day of slaughter therefore if thou art kept know who hath been thy Keeper This was typified in the Case of Aaron in that sore Plague Numb 16.46 c. And Moses said unto Aaron Take a Censer and put fire therein from off the Altar and put on Incense and go quickly unto the Congregation and make an attonement for them for there is wrath gone out from the Lord the Plague is begun
and Aaron took as Moses commanded him and ran into the midst of the Congregation behold the plague was begun among the People and he put on Incense and made an atonement and stood between the dead and the living and the Plague was stayed Aaron he was the High Priest and in that Office a great Type of Christ and in this action a great Type of Christ also it is he by his intercession and mediation steps in between the Living and the Dead if thou art not fallen among them that fall it is because this Aaron hath stept in to thy help because he hath rescued thee and been a Preservation unto thee The 68th Psalm is a Psalm applicable to Christ witness that passage in the 18th verse Thou hast ascended up on high thou hast led captivity captive and received Gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them This you know is spoken of and applied unto Christ by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Ephesians Chap. 4. mark now what follows in this 68th Psalm vers 26. He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death This is also spoken of Christ unto him belong the issues from death so that if thou art spared and saved in a day of slaughter it is from the Lord thou must say thou hast had this issue from death That which I drive at is this that you may not lose my design Have you not cause great cause to see that the Branch of the Lord by your escape be rendered so much the more excellent and comely to you since what escape you have is through him if you are preserved it is by Christ unto whom you are beholding for your preservation 3. Further The escaping of slaughter should render the Lord beautiful and glorious to you seeing it is from him that thou hast not onely thy Escaping but the Good of thy Escape not onely the Thing it self but the Mercy with it by him it is blessed unto you if it be blessed Some there are and O unhappy they unto whom every thing is accursed Psal 69.22 Let their Table become a snare before them and that which should have been for their welfare let it become a trap Every enjoyment is a snare unto some The curse of the Lord is in the House of the Wicked Prov. 3.33 Some men though they have houses to hide their heads in and it may be many things in them that look like mercies they are yet curses to them possibly their houses are full of the things of this World Waters of a full Cup may be rung out unto them their Eyes may stand out with fatness and they may have more then Heart can wish they may have Basket and Store and yet be cursed both in the Basket and in the Store it may be their Houses are full of Children and the Substance they leave is left unto their Babes as is the Psalmists expression but they are cursed also in the fruit of their Womb it may be Health and Life are within their Walls not one sick not one dead all preserved and well but yet it is not well for this their preservation is not blessed Let me tell you that read these lines As God smites some in anger in anger also sometimes he forbears to smite therefore in Isa 1.5 Why should you be smitten any more It was a word of great displeasure The escaping of some may be cursed unto them but if thy escape be blessed unto thee and thou hast it and the mercy with it thou art beholding unto Christ for both Some are preserved in love sweet is that expression and happy they that can say so Isa 38.17 Behold for peace I had great bitterness but thou hast in love to my Soul delivered it from the pit of corruption He was not onely delivered from the pit of corruption but delivered in love unto his Soul in a way of mercy and special kindness happy they that can say Thou hast given me this escape in love to my Soul But how comes a Soul to have such a Deliverance and to have it in love too from that general word Gen. 22.18 there is the fountain-head from whence our mercies flow In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be bâ—essed in Abraham's Seed meaning Christ all the Blessings come that come upon the World Whatever comes to thee or me if it come as a Blessing it is through the Seed of Abraham and upon that score we are to place it Now if thou do'st escape and this Escape be sanctified unto thee and all this be but Fruit growing upon this Branch of the Lord should not thy Escape render the Lord Jesus the more amiable to thy Soul 4. Thou hast not onely the mercy of thy Escape from Christ but skill to walk under it becomingly Vain man would be wise though he is born as the wild Asses Colt untoward untractable good for nothing unruly and perverse and if there be any thing of Wisdom given him it is from this fountain 1 Cor. 1.30 it is Christ that is made of God unto us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption it is in him are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge and from him communicated and given down unto poor Creatures as Paul Phil. 4.12 13. saith I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me that is I can do all wisely I can use and manage every Providence rightly and how canst thou do this Paul Through Christ that strengthens me So to use Afflictions and Distresses Miseries and Mercies becomingly thy strength is in Christ and from him it must be communicated unto thee and therefore the sence of this should much endear Christ unto thy Soul that not only the Mercy of an Escape is from him but also Wisdom to use and rightly to manage it To which adde 5. That by Jesus Christ this Branch of the Lord we have not onely an Escape in time of common Calamity but greater and better things which by our Escape we may be led unto the consideration and meditation of Certain it is that through this Branch of the Lord we have salvations of more kinds then one in that 68th Psalm vers 20. where it is said He that is our God is the God of Salvation Junius renders it thus He is a God powerful to all kindes of Salvation or as the Hebrew is He is the God of Salvations in the plural number So is it with Souls that have really Grace and Mercy from Christ they have Salvations of divers sorts they have Salvation from Sin from that power and dominion that sin is wont to have in the Soul they are wonderfully by Christ delivered
own evil ways and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your Iniquities and for your abominations The time intended here is the time when they should escape Calamities that were upon that People and God should have wrought graciously for them Then shall you remember your Own evil ways not others onely though you may remember others also you may warrantably look abroad consider the National sins and evils but be sure thou forget not thy own and having remembred to loath thy self for them to be offended with thy self that thou shouldst have any hand in the procuring of any Judgement from the Lord. There is a great mistake very common whether in Practice or Judgement I will not stand to determine we are not careful to mourn over our miscarriages but when the Rod is on our Backs like Children while the Rod is on their Backs they will cry and mourn but when the Father is pacified then forget wherefore he was contending The time of your escape is to be a time for enquiry into your ways and mourning over them look a text or two one you have Ezek. 6.9 And they that Escape of you shall remember me among the Nations whither they shall be carried captives because I am broken with their whorish heart which hath departed from me and with their eyes which go a whoring after their Idols and they shall loath themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations observe what Fruit it is the Lord expects from them that are escaped they shall remember me and remember themselves too their ways and doings and then shall loath themselves to which adde Ezek. 7.16 Escape they shall but being escaped there is a Duty lies upon them They should be upon the Mountains as the Doves of the Valleys every one mourning for his iniquity The Babylonish Captives after they escaped out of Captivity out-lived the distress that had buried many you find that at that time there was found a spirit of mourning upon them Ezra 9.3 is an evident testimony of it And when I heard this thing I rent my garment and my mantle and pluckt off the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down astonied thus did Ezra and thus should every one that escapeth the Day of Gods Controversie Now what is the frame of your hearts truly all our hearing and knowing of what frame we should be in will stand for little unless you compare your Spirits and the Word together and see whether it be with you accordingly This you may be confident of we have all had a hand in the provocation of this day and if so we should have also an eye to look into our hearts and mourn over our evil ways which must be done if we would have a proof unto our selves that this Branch of the Lord is become glorious to us after our escape 2. The Lord expects of them that escape That they should perform their Vows make good the Covenant and Promises which they made in the day when they were in trouble and fear it is very common with men in a day when distress is threatned to make large Promises and when the distress is over to be as backward in performing as before they were forward in promising this was the case of that people Jer. 2.20 For of old time I have broken thy Yoke and burst thy Bonds and thou saidest I will not transgress when upon every high Hill and under every green Tree thou wanderest playing the Harlot the meaning is when distress was upon them they cried if God would but take off that distress and remove the stroke they would be a people not transgressing a holy people but how did they keep the Promise whenas upon every high Hill and under every green Tree thou wanderest playing the Harlot falsified their word abominably that is a great evil that the Lord cannot well pass by that is a known Scripture Eccles 5.4 5. When thou vowest a Vow unto God defer not to pay it for he hath no pleasure in fools pay that which thou hast vowed better it is that thou shouldest not vow then that thou shouldest vow and not pay in this kind delays are dangerous defer not to pay thy Vows for he hath no pleasure in folly it is folly for a man to promise unto God what he means not to perform Better it is not to vow then having vowed not to pay the Devil hath a double design upon creatures in days of distress and our own hearts much deceive us in it First I am perswaded the Devil puts poor Creatures many times upon a great forwardness to make Promises and many times our hearts do exceedingly deceive us by feeding us with some secret hopes by our Promises to buy out an indulgence from the Lord that we may escape the evil we fear and the second design of the Devil is when he hath brought the Soul to bind it self unto the Lord in abundance of bonds then to cool the heart as fast as he can and make it forget its engagements and so wraps the Soul in abundance of guilt I have found that there is no guilt defiles the Soul at a greater rate then the breach of Covenant for God will not endure to be mocked and have the Promises made unto him falsified God will put your Bonds in suit against you and require of you what you have been free to engage for Deut. 23.21 When thou shalt vow a Vow unto the Lord thy God thou shalt not slack to pay it for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee and it would be sin in thee it would be sin not to live up unto Engagements Examine your hearts what Engagements have you passed in the days of your distress it may be Visitations were near you you were in eminent hazard and your hearts troubled for fear did you not say Lord If thou wilt keep me this day if I may but out-live this distress never will I be so vain so earthly so carnal so slight in the Work of God as I have been Have you not past some such or the like promise to the great God Now Jesus Christ he is privy unto all that you have said and done though it were in secret he hath taken an account of all that you have engaged to be and do how do you perform you cannot comfortably conclude that Christ hath gotten ground in your hearts unless you have paid your Vows to the Lord. The Servants of God have been conscientious in the Case Psal 66.13 I will go into thy House with burnt-offerings I will pay thee my Vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble David had his troubles as well as other of his Neighbours and in his troubles he did sometimes make Promises unto God herein he was honest and faithful did conscientiously regard the performing the Promises he had past
and thus to do will be a proof of your love to and esteem of this Branch of the Lord as more excellent to you then he was wont to be Saith David Psal 116. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications that is I will love him better then ever I did if he had but a little he shall now have more and what proof doth he give of it vers 14. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his People here was a proof it The Lord help us that have the Vows of God upon us to evidence that Christ is become glorious unto us by performing our Covenant God is known to be a Covenant-keeping-God and his People should be like their heavenly Father But again 3. A third thing required from them that escape a day of Calamity is this That Christ be owned in the Escape that he have the glory of it put it not upon your natural Fortitude and Courage your natural hardiness and boldness as some vaunting spirits are apt to do and to conclude thence was their preservation God doth not fear to strike the most fearless and sometimes the most fearless are in the greatest danger Put not thy escape upon the score of thy own Wisdom that thou hast acted thus and thus prudently for thy preservation if the Lord would he could easily have out-witted thee and if he had not been with thee in the acting the best of thy Wisdom would not have been useful take heed of boasting in Means if Means have been successful look up to that God that hath been pleased to bless them unto that end Psal 116.8 David puts the matter upon its proper Basis Thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling Gracious hearts desire to cry as Moses and the Children of Israel did when they saw Pharoah and his Host sunk as Lead in the Sea and themselves preserved to their great amazement Exod. 15.2 The Lord is my Strength and my Song and He is become my Salvation He is my God and I will prepare him a Habitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him According to this time it shall be said said Balaam in his Prophecy What hath the Lord wrought This must you and I say What hath the Lord wrought The truth is Christ suffers much in the World and suffers much from his own People they rob him of his glory we are apt to give that honour that is due to him unto some one else but it should be our care to be found in the frame with them Jer. 50.28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of Babylon to declare in Sion the vengeance of the Lord our God the vengeance of his temple it is the work of escaping Ones to praise the Lord and declare his works Would you all have some token for good that the interest of Christ is promoted in you see whether it be your care to give Christ the glory of this Salvation of which you have been partakers 4. This is the requirement of Christ from them that are escaped That the sence of this Mercy should long rest upon our Spirits our goodness in every respect is apt to be like the morning-cloud and the early dew that soon passeth away and in this respect more then in many other things the sence of our deliverance is very apt to wear off the Soul but it is a frame that Christ much mislikes where he findes it an instance or two may serve to convince us of it Psal 78.10 11. They kept not the Covenant of God possibly by this may be intended the Covenants they made with God in distress they did not keep them why not it was because they forgot his Works and Wonders that he had shewed them and one sin draws many more after it oft times they forgot the Works of God and so their Covenant with God both are taken ill and the latter as ill as any that God should shew abundance of kindness to a People whilst they slight and dis-esteem and let the sence of that kindness slip out of their minds and therefore he complains of the same thing Psal 106.13 They soon forgat his Works they waited not for his Counsel They were the delivering-Works of God and all the wonders he had shewed them they soon forgot the sence thereof was crept out of their hearts in a little time All of us alive may say we have seen much of the goodness of God to us but if we should be of the number of them that soon forget his goodness we do very evilly requite the Lord. 5. This is the requirement of Christ from them that are escaped in the day of Calamity That we should be dedicated consecrated and given up to his Use and Service in our whole Course This is the obligation that Christ hath laid on our Souls by carrying us through the distresses of this day That the rest of the time we spend in the flesh should not be spent according to the will of the flesh but according to the will of God that the rest of the time of our sojourning here might be spent in fear It is a kind of a new life that every one of us have received and this new Life should have Newness of Life going along with it saith the Apostle I beseech you by the mercies of God that you give up your selves Body and Soul as a Sacrifice to God which is but your reasonable service and such a mercy as this doth call for it that your Souls should be for God and your Bodies for God the Body hath received a great deal of mercy at this time that is preserved and kept the Clay-Cottage kept from tumbling to dust and ashes now all the members of the Body as well as the powers of the Soul ought to be for the Lord this the Lord expects and it is but your reasonable service which in common Justice should be given unto Christ Psal 116.8 9. For thou hast delivered my Soul from death mine Eyes from tears and my Feet from falling I will walk before the Lord in the land of the Living that is I will walk as in his sight and presence I will look to maintain a good frame of Life and Conversation in the rest of the time I have to spend in the World And thus may you testifie unto your selves and others that Christ gains on you by your Escape this day if you be found in the discharge of those Duties which are expected from you And thus I have dispatched the Doctrinal part VSE I. If this be a proper effect of your Escaping in a day of slaughter to have the Branch of the Lord become lovely know this kindness hath been shewed us therefore it concerns us narrowly to see how this effect is wrought out Every Soul should turn his Eyes inward I would hope your Souls have been a little thus
engaged I have not long since met with a People that would eagerly make it their business to compare themselves and a Word together and see where their guilt was and get what light they could into their hearts this be confident of the God of Heaven is considering diligently Jesus Christ this Branch of which we are speaking is observing what is the Fruit of every Mercy as Deut. 32.15 But Jesurun waxed fat and kicked thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his Salvation when God had done much for him he considers how he had carried it but he found sad effects of all Jesurun waxed fat and kicked I would the goodness of God to us should have some more kindly reception and entertainment Now that which I shall do for the present shall not be to clear it up to you that Christ hath gotten ground upon you for as to that I shall refer you to what is spoken already but to lay some few things before you that may convince you if really you are short and wanting in this blessed issue af your Escape If really this effect be not wrought upon your hearts it will appear by these four or five things and I beg you to consider them seriously 1. If in the day when the Rod of God hung more eminently over your heads you were not considering and pondering what effect it should work and if the Spirit of God were not teaching and instructing your Souls that it was to produce a greater esteem of Christ in your hearts then I fear it is not done I fear Christ hath no more of you then he was wont to have You know this that God with his Correction is wont to give Instruction therefore saith the Psalmist Psal 94.12 Blessed is the man whom thou Chastenest and Teachest out of thy Law God is wont to tell the Soul where it is wanting what he calls for and what he would have wrought in the heart So Job 36 9 10. Then he sheweth them their Work and their Transgressions that they have exceeded he openeth also their Ears unto Discipline and commandeth that they return from iniquity He speaks here about a Day of Affliction and truly if the Lord hath not been teaching you and shewing you that you were wanting in your esteem of Christ it is much to be questioned he is not become glorious David Psal 119.67 said Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word how came he to be brought in unto God to walk with him and keep his Word and his Way better then he was wont to do God had been shewing him that he was out of the way and where he should be and so brought him in again Commune with your own hearts my Friends faithfully have you sat like Stocks and Stones under the Visitations of God when his Rod was upon others and threatned you Had you any of the Visits of God Were your Souls exercising themselves at a spiritual rate Did God make any approaches unto you Or did you live in that time without God If you did I fear you are without him still 2. If your souls have not been pressing after Christ and longing for a better frame towards him longing for an higher esteem of him it is doubtful the esteem of him is not raised in your souls such an esteem of Christ is not a frame that useth to steal upon the heart it knows not how It is for the most part the issue of much care and pains and great diligence and if thy soul hath been wanting herein it is to be feared that the interest of Christ is not to any great degree promoted in thee Some souls find sin very apt to creep in do they what they can and that it is a work a hard work to keep it down nor is it less difficult to encrease in our esteem of Christ Phil. 3. Paul would know more of Christ and the power of his Resurrection what course did he take in order to it saith he I go forward and I press on to the mark for the price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus He set himself unto the work with great diligence How have you been exercising your selves have you been crying unto the Lord in secret wrestling and pleading with him that he would carry on the Love of his Son in you What was it you asked of the Lord was it meerly to be kept from the evil of the day or that the work of Christ might be promoted in you by your escape If your hearts have not been exercised this way I fear the Branch of the Lord is not become glorious unto you though you are escaped 3. If in your Escape your great care is how to repair and piece up those outward dammages that you have sustained by this Visitation the Interest of Christ I fear hath not much gained in you possibly many of you may be sensible you have sustained outward dammages by this day if your hearts are only contriving how you may make up those breaches made upon your outward concerns you are not where you should be I fear many this day will be like to the Seamen and Mariners who after a storm when a calm comes they are busie in patching up their tackling and repairing the dammages the Vessel hath sustained by the storm but not so carefull to consider who hath preserved them in the storm and brought them to a calm but this is a bad frame if thou beest gained upon by Christ thou wilt say What shall I render unto the Lord for all his kindness To which add 4. If thy heart in this time of thy Escape be not affected w th that unkind usage which Christ meets with from many escaping-ones I shall fear that thou thy self also dost not use him kindly nor prize him much the more though thou hast an Escape from his goodness doubtless Christ meets with much unkindness from some that have escaped How many in an Atheistical spirit this day live as if there were no after-state nor eternal judgment as they 1 Cor. 15. cry Let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall dye they have learned to know that Death hangs over their heads therefore what will they do why serve their lusts as much as they can make use of their time as they call it though it be to abuse time and turn the grace of God into wantonness Now when thou hast heard things how is it with thee If Christ hath gotten ground within thee these things will pierce thine heart The evil of wicked men is a great grief unto the Saints therefore it is said 2 Pet. 2. Righteous Lot was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked his righteous soul was vexed in hearing and seeing the dishonour that was done unto the Lord it was a burthen to him And so David saith Wo is me that I
out-live a day of sad Calamity yet Christ is become more contemptible in their eyes who instead of being brought near unto Christ are at a greater distance from Christ It is verily a sad consideration that such should be the conclusion of such a Providence upon the hearts and spirits of any but yet I fear thus it is with more then a few Paul 2 Tim. 3.13 tells us that evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse It is the doom that passeth oft times upon evil men that let the dealings of God with them be what they will they are the worse under them wanting the help of the Spirit of Grace to manage and improve them for good they grow into a worse and more evil frame by them All the goodness the gracious dealings of God they are peculiarly directed to win upon the heart to bring Christ and Souls nearer together this is hinted in Rom. 2.4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance We are to interpret the end of Gods kindness to be for the bringing the heart to bow and stoop and fall at the Foot of Jesus Christ in case it have not this issue what issue else it produces will certainly be very sad namely the setting Souls at a greater distance from Christ and plunging them into a condition worse then they were in before and so it is added vers 5. Thou treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath thou by this means raisest up greater displeasure between him and thy Soul If you say Are there any that really have lower thoughts of Christ after they have escaped a day of Distress then before I answer it is to be feared too many and where you find one or more of these marks I shall lay down you may conclude that such persons though Christ hath dealt very tenderly with them and not swept them away in a day of destruction as he might have done yet Christ is become more contemptible in their accounts then he was before 1. Where you find a spirit more senceless and stupid more sottish and secure then before such a one is really set at a greater distance from Christ then before Some there are it is much to be feared that having survived this day of distress begin now to look upon themselves as out of reach as if no future danger could possibly attend them growing hard hearted and exceeding secure after those dealings of the Lord under which they have fallen such Souls and Christ are farther apart then they were wont to be Isa 57.15 the Spirit of God tells you Christ dwells in the humble heart and with a broken Spirit Now according as you find a heart melted and broken and said low put into a tender frame so far Christ makes his approaches towards the Soul and comes to be esteemed by it but according as you find the spirits of men grow into a hardness insensibility and security by so much you may conclude Christ is set at a distance from and dis-esteemed by such Souls and O that there were not many sensible proofs of a very insensible Spirit in many poor Creatures who yet are allowed a being upon the Earth If that be allowed to be a sign of security which Christ himself tells us was a sign of it Mat. 24.38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the Ark and knew not till the flood came and took them all away so shall also the coming of the Son of man be observe it Noah was in his days a Preacher of Righteousness he warned the People of Judgement to come the People were exceeding stupid not in the least prevailed upon and what was a proof of it They were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage then at a more then ordinary rate therefore it was an argument what ever was said unto them or whatever God intended they were not much awakened If that were a sign of stupidity then so it is now surely and gives a great deal of reason to conclude that Christ hath not gotten but rather lost upon many of the hearts of those that have escaped 2. Where persons are more desperately and eagerly set upon their lusts there you may conclude Christ is become more contemptible then he was There is such a direct contrariety between sin and Christ that by how much the more a man grows in love with sin by so much the more he must grow out of love with Christ Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject unto the Law of God neither indeed can be Now by how much the more men grow more carnal by so much their enmity against Christ is increased and improved Sinne doth not onely harden mens hearts but it also blinds and shuts mens eyes and by how much the more a man plungeth himself in sin and gives up himself to the service of it by so much you may conclude his mind is blinded and his eyes shut from seeing that glory and beauty that is eminently found in the Lord Jesus Christ The more a man sets himself in the way of sin the more he is under the power of Satan and where Satan rules as a Prince what doth he 2 Cor. 4.4 the Apostle saith The God of this World he blinds the minds of men And from this you may gather if you can observe that men that are preserved this day their hearts are not in the least taken out of those ways of sin in which they did walk but are rather set with greater eagerness to fulfil the desires of the flesh and of the mind you may without breach of Charity conclude those persons are more blinded and less able to see any beauty and excellency in this Branch of the Lord then before Onely we will hope if this spirit be found upon any that it is but as the Apostle saith sometimes concerning the Jews Rom. 11.7 What then Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded We will hope that if there be any that are the more hardened and blinded by this gracious Dispensation of Preservation it is not the Elect that are blinded but those that are given up which the Lord intends not to look after in any gracious way We will hope for any that have any interest in the Lord Jesus that he hath not nor will leave them to such a spirit 3. If you find any more at enmity with the People of Christ then before you may conclude Christ is more contemptible in their eyes then he was before Mind not what men talk do not heed mens grasping after the name of Christians and talking of Christ as a Saviour but know that men may speak of Christ as the whole Nation
doth and other Nations do and yet have no more real love to him then those that never heard of Christ It is a very notable Scripture Jer. 12.2 Thou hast planted them yea they have taken root they grow yea they bring forth fruit thou art near in their mouth and far from their reins It may be well with a People they may be in an outward prosperous condition they may be flourishing and speak much of Christ and boast of him and yet Christ may not have one inch of their Hearts But you shall judge whether really men be for Christ or no by their dealings with his People if you find their enmity against the Saints grow let their boast be as it will instead of discovering glory in Christ they are become more at enmity with Christ then they were Let me allude at least to that word 1 John 5.1 Every one that loves him that begat loveth him that is begotten of him It is spoken concerning the Father and Christ men will say they love God why says John You cannot unless you love Christ for he that loveth him that begetteth loveth him also that is begotten So say I of Saints Do you love Christ if so you love them that are begotten of him To which I might adde a fourth and that is this 4. Doubtless there is cause at least to fear that the Branch of the Lord is not become glorious to those escaping ones who have endeavoured to hinder the efficacy and force of this dispensation upon the hearts of poor Creatures I will tell who I think are some way culpable herein they that have covered the dealings of Christ if there be as is shrewdly suspected any that have hid this present Work of God upon us and not let us know it in its full extent latitude †It was feared some 1000's were kept out of the weekly Bills it will certainly lie upon their score that have stood in the way of Christs Work and hindered that efficacy it might have had upon the hearts of poor Creatures But to all or any of those that are rather at a greater distance from Christ than brought nearer to Christ I shall onely say in brief that it is worth the minding God considers what influence and effect his dealings have upon the hearts of men when a Judgement is on their Backs the Lord considers whether it work any good effect upon them or no as in 2 Chron. 28.22 it is said of Ahaz That in the time of his distress he did trespass against the Lord yet more this is that King Ahaz God notes especially that under his hand a person became worse and worse and there is such a mark put upon him as is scarce put upon any in Scripture This is that King Ahaz that Ahaz that became worse in a day of distress God also strictly observes how his kindness works in that fore-cited place Rom. 2.4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance Observe the long-suffering of God and his forbearance that is in not cutting down his poor creatures when he hath them at some kinde of advantage as in a day of common Calamity if God spares them then he manifests his riches of Grace and Goodness towards them and if it be not answered with some suitable walking how doth the Lord interpret such a neglect He says they despise it And to end this Use let me take up some passages in that first of the Proverbs it is said vers 24. I have called and you have refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded The Lord calls by his Word and he calls by his Rod He calls by his gentle dealings his kinde usage his preserving in a day of Calamity is as much a Call as the Calamity it self and he saith unto them that answer not this Call and do not improve it aright vers 26. I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh They that are for a time unaffected may have a time to be in distress when they may stand in need of kindness to be shewed unto them though they are preserved and kept alive Vers 32. The turning away of the simple shall slay them and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them If men turn away from the Calls of God not answering his expectation either under Preservations or his more severe dealings their turning away shall slay them and their prosperity shall destroy them Some think it may be because they are yet in prosperity there is no farther hazard but God saith their prosperity shall prove their destruction and bring forth Consequences more sad it may be then any of which they were afraid in the day when distress hung over their heads That is what I would say to the third Use from this point A fourth Use is this VSE IV. If the Lord should be beautiful and glorious unto those that escape I would here apply my self unto a Soul that may be tender and jealous over it self and fear lest after its escape Christ should not be rendered glorious unto it as he ought Some there are that take no pains to consider how things are and whether they go well or ill that is not the thing that much engages their hearts others are jealous over their Spirits knowing something the treachery of their hearts they are always apt to doubt and fear A Soul that knoweth how precious Christ ought to be and beautiful in its eye fears lest after such kindness received from Christ it should not see that beauty in him nor be taken with him as it ought May this be the case of any one of us at present I would speak four or five things that may be seasonable and helpful to the Soul in this case 1. Such is the Glory and Beauty of Christ that no Soul under Heaven is able to see him in all his Glory nor to admire him according to all those blessed Perfections wherewithal Christ is cloathed That expression may be heeded by you Ephes 3.8 where the Apostle speaking of Christs glory calls it The unsearchable Riches of Christ it is an Ocean without a bottom that cannot be fathom'd by him that searches into it most accurately and exactly it is like the Mines the bottom of whom is not found out though men have digged in and fetched Treasure from them for a long time together Let not a poor Heart think it is at present in a capacity of valuing of Christ according to all his Worth and Excellency for that the Soul cannot fully know What is spoken of God I may allude to and apply to Christ Job 11.7 Canst thou by searching finde out God canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection it is as high as Heaven what canst thou do deeper then Hell what canst thou know the measure thereof is longer then the Earth and broader then the Sea Such
gotten within their Walls This hath been the case of many if of any here it should strike deep upon the heart and make us sensible how much we owe unto Christ how glorious should He become unto us what defence was the security of a poor Creature in such a time it was not Walls it was not distance of place but the hand of Christ doubtless it hath been unto many something according to that word Luk. 7.34 c. There shall be two in one Bed the one shall be taken and the other left Two in one Family there have been it may be the one taken the other left yea possibly two in one Bed the one taken the other untouched this hath been a Case of rich Mercy and certainly should engage the Soul much to prize him Psal 107.14 15. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness for his wonderful works to the children of men Doubtless such a Soul must say as David It was compassed about with the shadow of Death it was in a state of darkness an uncomfortable time to them whose Persons were possibly untouched and a wonderful work of God it was to keep one while others were cut down Now this should work up the heart to admire the Lord. VSE VIII But then in the eighth place If every escaping-One should see that Christ is become glorious unto him How should it be with those whose Houses were compassed possibly round about and Death very near them but yet the hand of God entered not into their Walls My Brethren it is promised as a peculiar favour Psal 91.10 No Plague shall come nigh thy dwelling It is something not to have it come unto thy person and not to have it come into thy dwelling that neither thy self nor any within thy Wall have a hair of their heads touched nay possibly thou hast been within the hearing of the cryings and groans of dying ones doubtless many have and when They have cried for a little longer time to be intrusted with a little more liberty in this World for Eternity and everlasting Concernments it hath been denied Them but granted unto Thee and Me and when the hand of God hath been round about it hath not come within thy Door Oh who hath been the Keeper of thy door and mine When many have been in the bitterness of their Souls bemoaning the loss of this and that Relation Parents of Children Children of Parents some Husbands and Wives wailing and lamenting for one another What mercy is it that a Soul can say It is well with me and mine that no evil hath come nigh them I tell thee Soul these are things that should exceedingly engage thy heart to Christ and should prevail much to the setting him up in thy Soul This should be the resolution of every one partaking in this mercy To use it for the exalting of Christ VSE IX A Use to those that Christ hath carried from place to place and so have been preserved Think not thy self the less indebted unto Christ for his kindness towards thee He is to be as glorious unto such as to any let it not lessen the mercy that thou hast not seen the dismal sight and heard the doleful cries of them into whose Windows Death hath entred I know we are apt not to be affected or at least very little with things that our eyes do not see and our ears hear but that is an evil frame and certainly though our abode may not have been in the time of this Distress in the heat of it in the midst of it yet we owe our preservation unto Christ as much as any and ought to see that it have influence upon us as much as any and that 1. Considering it doth not lessen but heighten the mercy that thou art not onely preserved from falling but from partaking in that bitterness and trouble of spirit that hath certainly born down many who have lived in the heat of this Distress Days of Slaughter and Calamity are days of heart-trouble to them that are preserved in the midst of them Jer. 30.5 6. For thus saith the Lord We have heard a voice of trembling of fear and not of peace ask ye now and see whether a man doth travel with Child wherefore now do I see every man with his hands on his loyns as a woman in travel and all faces are turned into paleness It is spoken with respect to some that lived in times and places when and where slaughtering-Judgements were abroad and they that were alive what was the horror perplexity of their spirits Do not think Soul but thou art the more engaged to Christ that he hath graciously carried thee out of the sight and noise of those direful out-cries Many can say We could hardly pass the Streets but meet with Coffins and hear the cries and complaints of Friends bereft of their Relations bless the Lord that he kept thee from the hearing of this Not but that Christ can make the hearing and seeing such things turn greatly to advantage but yet it is a piece of tenderness if Christ will do the Soul good at some cheaper rate 2. Consider thou couldst not have found shelter any where had not Christ led thee thither as it is not good to go without Christs leading us nor could we have gone any where if the Lord had not made our way for us Prov. 6.9 A mans heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps Many were considering whither to go and what to do and laid their designs but if the Lord did not order their steps they could do nothing You have a notable word Job 3.23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid and whom God hath hedged in Job was incompassed with sad distresses and he would fain have gotten out of them but saith he My way is hid he knew not whither to fly I am hedged in I must stay by it This hath been the case of many their ways have been hedged in and he could have hedged in thee and me if so it had pleased him and therefore if you and I have been carried unto places where we have been preserved let us admire the goodness of the Lord Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord but he could not the Lord hindred him To which adde also 3. Christ could have found thee with the Sword wheresoever thou hadst gone therefore let not thy preservation at a distance rob Christ of his honour but see his hand in it and know that it hath been his work and see that he be thereby rendered more beautiful and comely in thine Eyes VSE X. A tenth Use may be to Sinners that are escaped You are preserved it 's true and Christ this Branch of the Lord should be glorious unto you If thou art yet in a state of sin I would say unto thee four or five things 1. Though thou art escap'd Christ is not become glorious unto
thee a Soul in its natural condition seeth no Glory and Beauty in Christ it is the work of Faith that opens the Eyes to see Christs Glory and Excellency 1 Pet. 2.7 To you that believe he is precious Though it be thy Duty thou canst not live up to it thy Eyes are blind fast closed and the Glory of Christ is not discerned by thee this therefore is thy misery thou hast not answered the Lords expectation in this eminent preservation Sinners cry as they Isa 53.2 We see no form nor comliness in him nor Beauty for which we should desire him the Sinners Eyes are fast closed that though this be thy Duty thou canst not see it Nor 2ly Canst thou interpret thy Preservation to be out of good will to thee Rom. 8.28 All things shall work together for good unto them that love God but thou dost not love the Lord nor art thou the Called of the Lord thou art still in thy sin and for the present canst not interpret this dispensation to be in kindness what may be in the heart of God what secret purpose he may have how he may design hereafter to bring thee near unto himself thou canst not tell it is hidden for the present and yet thou canst not see there is any good intended thee in thy preservation and this is sad it exceedingly robs the Soul of the sweetness of such a dispensation when it cannot be took to be in kindness And 3ly If thou art a Sinner thou wilt use thy preservation to a wrong end Sinners if they ask mercy it is usually to wrong ends and if they receive mercies they improve them sinfully Psal 78.18 They tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust they asked a mercy but it was for their lust and they did as sadly improve it vers 28 29 30. And he let it fall in the midst of their Camp so they did eat and were well filled for he gave them their own desire they were not estranged from their lust but while their meat was yet in their mouths the wrath of God came upon them c. Thus it will be with thee Soul if thou art yet in thy Sin it is true thou art preserved but it will be to a farther misery thou hast asked it to sinful ends and wilt use it sinfully and so bring a curse upon thy self This is the misery of a poor Soul in sin he spoils his Mercies and brings down the wrath of God upon himself To which add 4ly If thou remainest in sin the time is coming when thou wilt certainly give a sad accompt of this mercy thou hast received and wilt really fall under a dispensarion much more sad then that from which thou art now delivered Christ will come in flaming fire and render vengeance unto them that know not God nor obey the Gospel of Christ the great intent of which is the exalting of Christ Now when by all means thou hast not been provoked to answer this end what will the result and issue of all be but the rendring vengeance unto thee and the wrapping thee up in eternal misery I would therefore say unto a Soul in sin What wilt thou do thou art a dying creature though thou hast escaped this storm and art in safety to day Eternity will soon come upon thee Ah what wilt thou do Soul thy great work lyeth in two things I will but even name them First Go unto the Lord that he would open thy eyes to see thy own misery and Christ in his glory that he would anoint thine Eyes with his Eye-salve that may cause the scales of ignorance to fall from them so as that thou mayst see thy self and Christ aright Secondly Beg that thou mayst have a heart to give up thy self to Christ that the glory thou seest in him may make thee restless until thou hast taken hold of him without which thou canst not walk comfortably though thou art preserved nor canst thou cheerfully look another time of trouble in the face and much less that time when thou shalt be going to thy long home USE XI One Use more Should the Branch of the Lord be glorious unto Escaping Ones It then adviseth all earnestly to press after such a Spirit I have two or three things to say by way of motive and so proceed to the second Note or Doctrine 1. Consider what a Preservation it is thou hast it is not thy Estate thy Liberty thy Name but thy Life and Skin for Skin and all that a man hath will he give for his Life If thou sayest as Job What is my life that I should hope If I live I may live in trouble Distress is like to attend the Servants of God therefore why should I make such reckoning of my life To that I say It is true distress may be the portion of the Lords People yet thy Life is a mercy thou mayst out-live or live above the distresses of the People of God or at least while thou hast life thou hast hope and time and an opportunity to get into more intimate acquaintance with Jesus Christ to be at work about thy everlasting concernments for which reason mainly life is to be valued It is thy Life that is given thee for a prey and this should make thee greatly to value and prize the Lord Jesus that gives thee such preservation 2. Consider how many of Spirits more excellent of Hearts more enlarged of greater use in their places that have been more serviceable unto Christ and his Interest then thou hast been have yet fallen and thou preserved Should not this mercy wonderfully affect thine heart Yea 3. Take this that the more thou seest of the Glory of Christ and the more he gains in esteem upon the Soul the more the Soul doth gain it is gain yea great gain great riches for the Soul to improve in its esteem of Christ Is not Christ the great thing the Gospel presents that every Soul should be seeking after Now the more thou hast of him in thy heart the more thou hast of true Treasure of Riches that are truly so called To which add 4. That if Christ do not become glorious unto us the time is hastening when he will be glorious in the esteem of others He will have glory no thanks unto us Certainly it is not long but Christ will make himself glorious and get himself a Name and Praise and all these slaughtering Providences they do but tend to that end Christ is at work though in the dark as to us and we cannot see his out-goings yet he is really working out his own advancement and will make all these end in his own glory Which leads me unto the second Doctrine from the Words The Second Doctrine That the Issue of all Slaughtering-Judgements shall be the making Christ glorious and that glory that shall be put upon the Head of Christ shall tend to the Good and Benefit of those of Israel that shall escape the
People may be frustrated Jer. 8.15 We looked for peace but no good came and for a time of health but behold trouble they did look for it but such an expectation must not be called by the name of Faith Let me tell you That nothing is Faith but that that is grounded upon a Word Psal 119.49 Remember thy Word unto thy Servant on the which thou hast caused me to hope It is very hard to find any word in Scripture where God doth absolutely assure unto his People exemption in a slaughtering-Calamity especially until Christ shall come forth to execute Judgement upon the Earth Therefore there not being a word for such Faith there cannot be a Faith of such a distinction Though men may call their vain expectations by the name of Faith they shall never find it to have Faiths Efficacy Obj. 5. If it be further said That by the falling of Gods Israel the Lord crosses and hinders his own design he hinders the effect of the Judgement upon the Hearts of sinners their hearts come by this means to be the more hardned and they thence conclude it is not intended and directed specially against them for say they The Good fall as well as the Bad and we are not intended more then others Answ To that I answer What if God will for the hardning the hearts of Sinners let some of his own fall What if that shall be one part of Gods design in it that their hearts may be hardened and thereby they may be the more ripened for their utter ruine and destruction If God have this design in his heart and will therefore be content to let some of his fall in a Calamity who are we that we should reply against God Obj. 6. If in the sixth place you should ask me But what shall we say concerning those of Gods Israel that are fallen must we conclude them all fallen in their trespasses and cut off because of some notable provocation that they stood guilty of Answ I answer No in no wise notwithstanding all that hath been said But my poor thoughts are these That some of the Lords own Israel may have had too great a hand in and may have stood under too much guilt with respect to some of the provocations of this day and so may be fallen in their trespasses God may have cut them off from the Earth in some displeasure for some Abominations in which they have been found though he may receive them to himself in glory but I must say concerning others of the Lord's People this day fallen and some of them have this witness in my soul that surely the hand of God went not out against them for any speciall provocation upon them but upon account of the accomplishing and bringing about some notable things that are in the heart of God which time must manifest therefore though the falling of many Saints may speak that the Lord is displeased with his People yet I would even say concerning many of them and it may be a caution unto us as Christ Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish or those eighteen upon whom the Tower in Shiloe fell and slew them think ye that they were sinners above all others that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish though many of the Saints may possibly have fallen through great provocations yet surely for others we must not reckon them sinners above the rest of the Saints that remain Obj. 7. If it be asked May we conclude that all the Israel of God that have escaped and may escape through Grace that they do therefore escape because they have been found walking uprightly with God in a constant exercise of Grace do they therefore escape because they are found in right and good frames of soul To that I answer Let us not be high-minded but fear Though possibly some of the Saints that stand God hath found them in a right Spirit and is therefore pleased to spare yet for many of us we must put our preservation upon some other score I would rather place it where the Spirit of God doth sometimes place the preservation of Israel Psal 78. But he being full of compassion forgave their iniquities yea many a time turned away his Anger and did not stir up all his Wrath. I do rather suppose that most of us that live live through the grace and indulgence of a tender-hearted God because he doth not stir up all his Wrath rather than because we have been found in this right and excellent Spirit which this day calls for and which of right should have been found upon us And thus I have shewed that in dayes of slaughter all of Israel may not escape and why I proceed now to the second Branch for prosecution of this Doctrine to shew that whoever stand or fall Christ will lose none of his glory that all slaughtering-providences shall end in the making Christ glorious In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious that is in that day when some great and dreadful Slaughters are brought to a conclusion as is evident if you consider and compare it with what goes before in the third chapter Certainly a little light into Scripture is enough to satisfie us that God hath brought forth many great things for his own glory and the good of his People by slaughters it were easie to observe unto you that most of the great things that God hath done for his Name and People have been effected and brought about by great distresses Israel were set free from their oppression which was an eminent mercy and how Slaughters were made to bring that about Exod. 14.13 Moses said unto the People Fear ye not stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord which he will shew unto you to day for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day ye shall see them again no more for ever And you shall finde they were possessed of Canaan setled in that good Land but which way it was by and through great slaughters the Canaanite was dispersed and driven out and it was by cutting them off yea I do suppose that one of the means and wayes by which God made way for Israel to set them in Canaan was by the Pestilence I gather it from that Exod. 23.23 My Angel shall go before thee and bring thee in unto the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perrisites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites and I will cut them off God saith he would send his Angel to do it The Angels of God work many wayes but that that is eminently called in Scripture the stroke of the Angel it is that stroke by the Pestilence as many instances might make it good and I the rather judge it to be the intent of the expression because it
in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known in wrath remember mercy God came from Teman and the Holy One from Mount Paran his glory covered the Heavens that is God came forth to work the Exaltation of his Son and what course doth he take in order to it vers 5. Before him went the Pestilence and burning Coals went forth at his feet The Pestilence is here called a fore-runner of Christs Exaltation he sends it before him to make room and way for himself though we possibly and our capacities are too shallow to conceive how it should be brought about It is possible if God let us stand upon the Earth some few years we may be much more enlightened in this matter and may see that God was this day eminently working to that end And that is what I would say to that Head That Slaughter and slaughtering-Judgements work for and shall end in the making Christ glorious Thirdly What is that glory that shall be put on Christ in the issue and end of these things I answer in a few particulars 1. The Essential Glory of Christ in the day of his Glory shall be more abundantly seen and discovered then now it is and shall take more upon the hearts of all Persons Christ is as glorious in his Essential Glory as can be for he is infinitely glorious and more then infinite cannot be imagined but this Glory may be discover'd and manifested beyond what it is The Sun is always a glorious Body but you know the light of it is hid many times Clouds stand between and we cannot see it at some times as we can at others Christ is exceedingly glorious but little of his Glory hath been hitherto manifested to the Children of Men more Eyes shall see it and more Hearts be taken with it then at this day Something of Christs Glory is seen already by the Saints who have a spiritual Eye they see that that takes their Hearts and makes them cry out as the Spouse sometimes doth He is altogether lovely Some of the Saints see that in Christ which is more to them then all that is in this World they take more comfort and content in it more of joy and satisfaction to their Spirits When Christ came in the Flesh it is said John 1.14 The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us and we saw his Glory the Glory as of the onely begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth That Glory that we do for the present behold in Christ and with which our hearts are taken it is rather for the most part that fulness of Grace that is in Christ for the good and benefit of Believers with that we are usually more taken then with his Essential Personal Perfections But the whole of Jesus Christs Glory shall yet shine forth so as it hath not done at any time therefore Psal 102.16 When the Lord shall build up Sion he shall appear in his Glory He is glorious now but he shall appear in his Glory hereafter beyond what he hath done at any time to this day suitable unto which is that Word Isa 33.17 Thine Eyes shall see the King in his Beauty they shall behold the Land that is very far off The best of Saints upon Earth if they see something in Christ that makes them in love with him in the day of his Glory there shall be abundantly more discovered that shall make them in love with him possibly more then ever they thought they should be for ever That is one part of that Glory shall come to this Branch of the Lord. 2. Christ shall in the end of this slaughter be made glorious in his Priestly Office as he is a Saviour he shall be made more glorious then ever It is the honour of Christ that he is a Saviour Act. 5.31 Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour But it hath been greatly to the disparagement of Christ and his dishonour in this his Office that he hath been so lightly esteemed of among the Children of Men that so few have taken hold of him for Life and Salvation Those that have believed on Christ have been a small number compared with the rest of the world and of these few they have been chiefly the poor low and little ones of the World persons of little esteem and account therefore Christ saith Mat. 11.5 The Poor have the Gospel preached unto them he saith it is preached to them because it is received by them the poor inconsiderable ones of the World have generally hitherto been the persons that have received Christ It is true some of the Great Ones of the World have courted Christ and professed to own him but not one of many have given up themselves unto Christ as a Saviour But now this shall be the Glory upon the head of Christ that Souls shall abundantly flock in unto him Before Christ makes an end of his work in the World he will so break the Hearts of Men that they shall flow in unto him in great abundance Hag. 2.7 And I will shake all Nations and the Desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this House with Glory saith the Lord of Hosts Christ by his Sword Pestilence and Famine is shaking the Nations that is his way and when he hath done shaking the Nations the Desire of all Nations shall come It is Christ is here intended and he is called the Desire of all Nations because the Nations of the World shall generally come unto him and imbrace him such shall be the confluence and flowing in to Christ This is intimated in that known place Isa 60.8 Who are these that fly as a Cloud and as the Doves unto their Windows It is spoken about the access of Souls unto Christ and mark the Saints that shall be alive at that day they cry with wonder and amazement Who are these that like Doves come to their Windows Doves you know fly in great flocks where they are plentiful and the meaning of this is multitudes shall subject themselves to Christ in truth and give up themselves to be saved by him Christ now doth sprinkle many Nations according to that Isa 52. here and there a few Souls in divers parts and places of the world but at length things shall be so ordered that even a Nation shall be born in a day and abundance of poor Hearts shall give up themselves unto the Lord Jesus This you have Numb 24.7 He shall pour the water out of his Buckets and his seed shall be in many waters and his King shall be higher then Agag And this is another part of the Glory that is to come unto Jesus Christ 3. Slaughter shall terminate in the Glory of Christ in this respect He shall be glorious in his Kingly Power he shall be owned as the Head and Lord and Law-giver the one onely Law-giver so shall he be owned Isa 33.22 For the Lord is our Judge the Lord
God to pour out a Spirit of Union which he hath promised to do The Lord shall be one and his Name one in all the Earth Zach. 4. and Jer. 32.39 I will give them one Heart and one Way to serve me When Christ shall be advanced our Divisions shall be broken and whatever the Devil and wicked Men have cast in as a snare and means to rend and divide shall be taken out of the way It is then that we shall be enlightened in the things wherein we vary one from another What is the ground of all our differences they are partly ignorance and partly pride our ignorance we cannot see into Truth one thinks one thing and another another and because we cannot see into every thing we disagree which is furthered by our Pride cleaving unto our own imaginations but this will be removed God will lay low the pride of men and we shall have more light we shall see that we never saw and be enlightened as we never were Isa 60.20 Thy Sun shall no more go down neither shall thy Moon withdraw it self for the Lord shall be thine everlasting Light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended The Lord shall at that day let us into the knowledge of much of his mind which yet we grope in the dark without light in and then there shall be a great Union among Saints Now to all these ends to the Glory of Christ and good of his People Christ is working by his slaughtering-Providences Those things that we wonder at and know not what they tend to it is to that end they subserve and shall be crowned with that issue And thus I have dispatched what I intend for the Doctrinal part I shall now proceed to the Application VSE I. IF this then be a Truth That the end of Slaughters shall be to make Christ glorious and his Glory shall be greatly for the advantage of the Israel of God that escape in times of slaughter It will then certainly be found a Truth very useful many ways and that which first is upon my heart to give forth to you is that which I hope will be also upon your hearts to put the question to your Souls Whether you are really the Israel of God or no. Escaped we are hitherto through Grace we stand alive in the presence of God but what state is it in which we stand Can you say Through Grace you have good hopes the Lord hath not onely spared you but also implanted you into the number of his own People and made you of the number of his own Israel The Mercy and the Good of an Escape is limited in the Text unto the Israel of God others may escape as well as they but in the conclusion it will be little to their comforts Israel had his name given to him from his wrestling with God in Prayer and prevailing and the Name is applied 1. To the natural Seed of Jacob the People of the Jews are often times in Scripture called Israel promiscuously one with another 2. It is applied unto the spiritual Ones among the natural Seed of Jacob those of the Jewish People that were really brought into a subjection unto and an acquaintance with the Lord they are by way of distinction from the rest of the Seed of Jacob called Israel 3. It is applied unto all both Jews and Gentiles that are really brought within the Bond of the Covenant Scripture dignifies them often with the title of Israel This is therefore the question that you and I are to put seriously to our Souls What testimony and witness have we that we are brought within the Bond of the Covenant and that our preservation is this day a Covenant-mercy to our Souls That is the question that must be asked Unbelief hath certainly proved the destruction of very many I mean the eternal destruction and Presumption hath been the slaughter of not a few and if I judge not amiss Presumption is oftentimes the root upon which Unbelief grows Many sitting under the Gospel of Christ and having some Form and Profession for God upon them do run away hastily concluding they are really of Gods Israel God Almighty give to you and me a greater Spirit of Wisdom that we may not upon slight grounds draw conclusisions that we are within the Covenant but may build our hope upon some good Foundation My Friends it stands you greatly in hand to be faithful and serious in this enquiry into your Spirits in this matter for if you should not be of the Israel of God it would not onely rob you of much mercy you might enjoy in this life it would not onely strip you of a part in the good that shall come to the Israel of God when the Branch of the Lord shall be glorious but what is more and what is worse it will cut you short of the glory that shall be put upon the head of the Saints in Eternity when Christ shall have given up the Kingdom to his Father and God shall be all in all Brethren upon many serious thoughts I may tell you that there is great ground why every Soul should be jealous over his own heart and should not hastily determine concerning its state Great are the mistakes false grounds and bottoms of hope upon which many poor creatures build and it concerns you to act curiously and warily lest you should be also mistaken To quicken you a little and to possess your Souls that there is need and great need for poor hearts to have a jealousie over themselves in this matter I would take leave to commend and open to you two Scriptures that I find in the Book of Truth one is in Rom. 9.6 7. Not as though the Word of God hath taken no effect for they are not all Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children Look to the fourth vers and you will finde that there are great Priviledges reckoned up that did appertain to Israel Who are Israel to whom pertaineth the Adoption and the Glory and the Covenant and the giving of the Law and the Service of God and the Promises How might some of the Jews say do these things belong unto Israel why surely Israel are cut short of them for there is not one of many of them that have received Christ and so are cut short of these Priviledges of the Gospel To that the Apostle answereth vers 6 7. Not as though the Word of God hath taken no effect for they are not all Israel which are of Israel c. as if he should say You must not judge that these great things are entailed upon the Jewish People because they are Jews or the seed of Abraham but it is through Faith they come to an Interest in these great things And in these words the Apostle doth remove a double bad Foundation upon which many poor Creatures are apt to build a hope 1. They are not Israel
because of Israel that is a Soul is not an Israelite indeed because he crowds himself in among that number because he takes up the same Profession with them and pretends to be in the same Spirit with them Let it be minded what is the Foundation of your Hope think you you are not therefore Israel because of Israel because of them that do profess for God that will not be a foundation that is fit for you to build upon And then 2. Neither are they Israel because they are the Seed of Abraham This was a mighty thing which the Jewish People boasted of say they We are Abraham's natural Seed his Seed according to the flesh And possibly some also may reckon upon some such thing at this day we are the Children of them that do believe and our education hath been somewhat suitable thereto but not therefore Israel because of Abraham's Seed that is a mistake you should be watchful against From the consideration of this word it is evident People may reckon themselves Israel upon unsafe grounds and therefore we ought to be serious in our enquiry into this matter The other Scripture is in Isa 48. where you have the preceding things and somewhat more expressed vers 1 2. Hear ye this O House of Jacob which are called by the Name of Israel and are come forth out of the Waters of Judah which swear by the Name of the Lord and make mention of the God of Israel but not in truth nor in righteousness for they call themselves of the Holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel the Lord of Hosts is his name It is a Scripture worth your considering and it doth in the general teach us thus much That a People may be many things and may do many things that do seemingly bespeak them to be of the Israel of God but when the matter is more thorowly enquired into it will be found it is no such thing Take a few particulars out of the Text and observe what persons may be and do and yet really not be the Israel of God 1. They may be called by the name of Israel they may be reputed Saints pass for somewhat in the esteem and account of others suitable to which is that Scripture which you have Rev. 3.1 where the Spirit of God testifies concerning the Church of Sardis that they had a name to live but yet were dead In the opinion of those that did converse with them and that held communion with them they were indeed alive but when the Spirit of God came to pass a sentence on them and to determine really what their state was says the holy Ghost Thou art dead 2. Observe also that they were the Posterity of Jacob Hear ye O House of Jacob that are come forth out of the Waters of Judah that is you are some of the multitude of Judah's Off-spring they were the seed of them that were in Covenant but yet notwithstanding many of them were Strangers to the Lord and not of Israel unto this day I beseech you mind it that Grace is not certainly and infallibly intailed upon every one of the Seed of Believers although it is very frequently seen that some or other of their Seed the Lord is pleased to chuse to himself and does set them apart to be the Instruments of his praise according to Isa 61.9 And their Seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their Off-spring among the People all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed not onely the Seed of them which the Lord hath blessed but a Seed which are themselves blessed in their own persons It is the usual method of the Lord though he may pass by some yet he does take some other of the Seed to bring them near to himself But this I must let you know you must no further make reckoning of the interest of Parents in the Covenant but as a ground of Hope to you and an argument to plead with God you must not thence conclude that you your selves are in the Bond of the Covenant till some work be upon your hearts 3. They made a profession for God and therefore are said to swear by the Name of the Lord. Swearing by the Name of the Lord is an act of Worship a professed owning of God which shall be done by Saints when they are found in the best Spirit witness that word Isa 65.16 He that blesseth himself in the Earth shall bless himself in the God of truth and he that sweareth in the Earth shall swear by the God of Truth because the former troubles are forgotten and are hid from thine eyes It is spoken about times in which a great deal of mercy and good will be brought forth and then there shall be swearing by the Name of the Lord it is a professed owning of God and thus did this People do and yet there was nothing of God in them nothing of Truth nothing but hypocrisie and deceit bound up in their Spirits 4. Observe also they did reckon themselves of Israel they were right in their own opinion and esteem they called themselve the Holy City It is a marvelous easie thing for a Soul to get a good opinion of himself to stand right in his own apprehensions but I would not have you build too much upon this It is an excellent caution which the Apostle gives Rom. 12.3 For I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of Faith I say unto every man among YOU he speaks unto Professors be not too hasty and forward to conclude well concerning your selves but let every man judge himself to be no more then according to the measure of Grace he hath received My Friends be your Profession what it will and your approbation among others what it can you are really no more nor will you stand for more in the day of Christ then according as there shall be somewhat of God found upon your Souls 5. Observe also they had much confidence that God would own them and therefore it is said They stay'd themselves upon the God of Israel they profess that they do act Faith on God and are full of confidence that they shall be owned of God and not rejected by him But after all this see what a character the Spirit of God gives of this People v. 4. Because I knew that thou art obstinate and thy Neck is an Iron sinew and thy Brow Brass a People very wretched and wicked very rebellious against God not in the least subjecting themselves to God and to his mind after all the profession they have made and their pretence to be Israel Seriously consider these things and tell me if there be not cause that each Soul of us should fear lest we be found short
of that number But you will say How may I gather some comfortable grounded conclusions that I am one of the Israel of God I am an Escaped One this day and would not be willing that I should be stript of the blessing of this Blessing I would have the Mercy in mercy and therefore how may I come to some comfortable hope that I really am a Jew inwardly and partake of the circumcision that is of the Heart whose praise is not of man but of God I answer in a few things the Lord make them really effectual upon your Souls 1. If thou art one of Israel thou art one of another Spirit then the men of this world the Israel of God they are a distinct People separate from the rest of the Earth and separated in their Spirits eminently in another Spirit then the men of this world be What is said concerning Caleb Numb 14.24 is truly applicable to every one of Israel in some measure But my Servant Caleb because he had ANOTHER SPIRIT with him and hath followed me fully c. There were abundance of Israelites in the Camp at that day but few of them were in the frames they should be in Caleb was of another Spirit and such is every Saint The Searcher of all hearts knows that there is a difference between him and the world Not a Saint in the world but hath some ground to make an appeal to God as sometimes the Psalmist doth Search me and try me and know my thoughts and to appeal to the Lord as sometimes Jeremiah did Thou knowest my heart towards thee O Lord. Isaac had been begging Seed for his Rebecca because she had been long barren at length it is said There was strugling in her Womb she wondered what it should mean but see what answer the Spirit of God makes her Gen. 25.22 23. And the Lord said Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowels and the one People shall be stronger then the other People and the Elder shall serve the Younger The two manner of People were Jacob and Esau and I bring this to tell you that Jacob who was after named Israel and so all in the same Spirit with him they are another manner of People as it were another Nation another thing then the men of this world are there is an eminent difference and distinction between Esau and Israel they are of different Spirits and of a different language as several Nations differing one from another 1 Cor. 2.12 The Apostle tells us We have not received the Spirit of the World but the Spirit which is of God This he speaks concerning the Saints of God they have received not the Spirit of the World but another Spirit distinct and different from them Brethren I would put it to your Consciences and would ask you what the answer of your Souls is What ground have you to conclude that there is another Spirit in you then that which is in the World It may be your practices are somewhat other then the practices of the World are but grant it be so yet if you are not in another Spirit also if the inward frame and constitution of your Souls do not differ you will not be found among the Israel of God in the conclusion Ah my Friends possibly some of your Practices may not vary from the men of the World possibly you can be vain with them that are vain and prophane with them that are prophane if it be thus with you you must reckon your selves to be of the brood of Esau to this day Observe the words of the Apostle Rom. 12.2 And be not conformed to this World but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds What say you Are you conformed to this World Do you drive the trade and take the course that the men of this World do Are you vain and frothy and foolish giving up your selves to serve divers lusts Youth is subject to be so and if it be thus with you you are not of Israel to this day But if you say We are not of this World we do not act as they do we do not live as they do then let me ask you Are you transformed It is well not to be conformed to this World but that is not enough you must be transformed and your Spirits renewed you must be of another Spirit then the men of this World I would beseech you to look well to your hearts and commune with your Souls and do it not slightly I know many and would wail over them that notwithstanding their profession for God and their talking much of him and being high in an external owning of God yet in their walking and therefore sure much more in their spirits they vary little from the men of this World If it be thus with you though you are escaped this day yet you cannot comfortably conclude you are of the Israel of God or that you shall bear a part in that mercy and good they shall enjoy when the Branch of the Lord shall be glorious 2. Are you Israel indeed then there is somewhat of Heart-cleanness in you there is somewhat of cleanness of Heart and purity of Soul in you Thus the Psalmist describes the Israel of God Psal 73.1 Truly God is good to Israel even to them that are of a clean Heart God is good to Israel he loves them they are exceeding dear to him and because they are dear to him therefore it is he is good to them But who are the Israel They are a certain sort of People that do not onely put on an external garb of Holiness a pretence for God and his work and service and glory but a People that have some inward conformity and likeness to God who have some cleanness of heart as well as of hands and face Man by nature is a very impure creature polluted grievously defiled all over all the Soul all the Powers and Faculties of it are stained and grievously polluted and therefore Sinners are in Scripture called the Impure and Saints by way of distinction from them are called Pure A sad account it is that the Apostle gives of Sinners Tit. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure but to the undefiled and unbelieving is nothing pure and their very consciences are defiled Jesus Christ describing the persons that shall see God to their comfort and joy he calls them the pure in heart Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Many there are that would pretend to this purity but it is peculiar and proper to the Israel of God onely it is the issue and fruit of a new work upon the heart it is the blessed effect of the Grace of God in and through the Covenant of Grace the making good of the Promise which he hath passed Ezek. 36.25 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and
a little against them And unhappy you if in your Youth and Strength you have few thoughts or few serious thoughts of God if he be little in your thoughts and hearts I tell you it is to be feared you are not of the Israel of God unto this day Though you escape and are preserved yet it is to be feared your preservation will not be attended with mercy to you nor shall you bear a part in that Glory that shall be upon the heads of Israel when the Branch of the Lord shall be glorious 4. If you are the Israel of God then are you Holiness to the Lord you not onely live upon him but to him in some measure Jer. 2.9 the Prophet saith Israel was Holiness to the Lord that is when Israel was in his right spirit then he was Holiness to the Lord. For the expression you have it in Scripture elsewhere Zech. 14.20 21. In that day there shall be upon the Bells of the Horses HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD and the Pots in the Lords House shall be like the Bowls before the Altar yea every Pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be Holiness unto the Lord of Hosts that is every Person and every Thing shall be for God for his Work and Service to be to his Praise and Glory Certain it is Saints are not their own as the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your own ye are bought with a price and so Tit. 2.13 14. where speaking concerning the purchase of Christ Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and might purifie to himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works The Vessels of the Temple before they were made use of in the Temple they had a legal consecrating and being cleansed they were given up to the work of the Temple to be for that use for ever And so the Saints of the Lord who were typified by the Vessels of the Temple they are first purified cleansed and sanctified by Christ by the work of the Spirit on their Souls and then given up to the Lord and his service It may be said of them as Hannah said of her Son Samuel 1 Sam. 1.28 Therefore I have lent him unto the Lord to be his so long as he lives Every Israelite indeed is one lent to the Lord given up to be for the work and service of the Lord in his whole course and in every thing to exalt his praise to mind his glory Certainly thus it ought to be and this was one end of the Death of Christ that he might have his People be for him 2 Cor. 5.15 He died and rose that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again and unto this Spirit Saints are wrought up in some good measure as is expressed Rom. 14.7 And none of us saith the Apostle live to our selves Souls what say your Hearts to this matter You profess for the Lord but are you for him as consecrated things in the House of God Which way do your Hearts work day by day This know where there hath not been a solemn resignation and giving up a mans self unto the Lord where there is not a diligent observing of a mans whole course to see to what ends they are directed and whether the glory of Christ be therein sought it is doubtful that Soul is not of the Israel of God to this day The truth is the sins of many witness to their Faces and I make no doubt but that inscription may be written over the doors of many Professors upon too great ground All men seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ If this be the spirit of any to whom these things may come you may fear though you are spared and are not cut down this day you stand but to cumber the ground such as God takes little delight in and such as from whom he hath little fruit such as he doth not reckon among the number of his Israel and such as shall not be blessed with Israels mercies when the Branch of the Lord shall be exalted 5. Are you Israel then are you a praying People Israel had thence his Name from his wrestling and prevailing with God God asked him what was his Name Gen. 32.27 28. he said Jacob and God said Thy Name shall no more be called Jacob but Israel for as a Prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed In his praying there is observable his importunity and that is expressed partly when it is said he wrestled and also in that expression wherein much freedom and familiarity with God is set forth God said Let me go says Jacob I will not let thee go except thou bless me v. 26. which importunity of his is again noted by the Spirit of God Hos 12.4 He had power over the Angel he wept and he made supplication There is also observable that this Prayer it was in secret Gen. 32.24 And Jacob was left ALONE it was between the Lord and himself in secret which I would beseech you to consider heartily That as soon yea at the very first moment when a Soul is enrolled among the number of Israel at that instant he becomes a praying Person as in the case of Saul who was afterward called Paul And let me ask you that attend on the Lord in publick Duties what are you in secret Does God usually there hear from you Cannot you live without seeing the face of God in secret Let me tell you publick Duties have many temptations a man may desire to be engaged in them from many base and bad ends yea it is possible natural Conscience and your Education may carry you into corners sometimes but therefore in secret how do you carry it Doth it satisfie you that you have been in your Closets and have spent it may be a quarter of an hour there and it may be with a slight and formal Spirit This is not the Spirit of Israel But if thou art an Israelite indeed when thou art in secret thou wilt be fervent and earnest with God In publick Duties a man may seem to be zealous that he may get a Name or keep up a Name that he hath gotten or to some such-like end but when in secret the Soul cries mightily to the Lord it is a good sign that there is a sense of want and that it does arise from a Spirit of Grace in the Soul when thou canst in secret sign and mourn before the Lord. Now these things I have gone over with this design to see if I could let you into a little Hope and good Ground that as you have escaped so you are escaping Israelites who shall partake of Glory when Christ the Branch of the Lord shall be made glorious And the Lord help you to be faithful to your Souls
and make you Israelites indeed in whom is no guile VSE II. THis will lead me to a Second Use If it be thus that the Glory that shall come to Christ shall be for the good of escaping Israel Then methinks you should say Pray what will come to them that are not Israel though they do escape Ah wo to them Dread and Terrour will be their portion I tell you Souls if any of you that are Escaping Ones this day are not of the Israel of God there is dread enough behind to make your hearts tremble though you have out-lived the present calamity I confess I cannot well tell you what the dread of your Condition is for the Spirit of God says Job 31.3 Is not destruction to the Wicked and a strange punishment to the Workers of iniquity The Spirit of God seems to say there should fall upon the heads of the Ungodly things that shall be strange in their very nature things unthought of Let me tell you though you are among the number of professing Ones and among them that are Israel yet if thou art not an Israelite indeed the hand of God will find thee out Jer. 50. when Babylons plagues are threatned it is said vers 35. A Sword is upon the Caldeans saith the Lord and then it is added vers 37. A Sword is upon their Horses and Chariots and upon all the mingled People that are in the midst of her It is said upon the Children of Israel's going out of Egypt that there went with them a mixt multitude there crowded among them some that were not the Israel of God Indeed I suppose it is such a kind of People the Spirit of God here speaks of Possibly thou art mixed among Professors but thy heart is not right with God God will find thee out and his hand will deal with thee What was falsly surmised of Paul when he had escaped the Ship-wrack and was come among the Barbarians it is said A Viper came and fastened upon his hand and say they No doubt this man is a Murderer whom though he hath escaped the Sea yet Vengeance suffereth not to live What the Barbarians falsly surmised may be true concerning any of you though you have escaped the slaughter of this day the hand of God may find you out notwithstanding A few things and but a few things to shew you what the misery of those is like to be who are not the Israel of God indeed though escaped for the present 1. Christ in the day of his Glory will cut them down tread them down without number The expressions of Scripture in this case must not be judged of according unto some of the Laws in our Land which they say are made in terrorem onely to affright men and it is not intended that the severity of them shall be inflicted on them but whatsoever God hath said concerning Sinners shall be certainly executed Isa 63.3 I will tread down the People in my anger and trample them in my fury and the same you have again vers 6. This is like to be the portion of those that are escaped and are not the Israel of God The Book of Joel is a Prophecy relating to that time when Christ shall be glorious vers 14. Multitudes in the Valley of Decision for the Day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision The day of the Lords Glory it will be a slaughtering-slaughtering-day and multitudes shall fall and they are said to fall in the Valley of Decision because at that time the Controversie shall be decided that hath depended so long Who are the Lords People and who are for him and who are owned of him indeed and in truth You read of Christ Rev. 14.14 And I looked and behold a white Cloud and upon the Cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man having on his head a golden Crown and in his hand a sharp Sickle Christ when he shall come to wear his golden Crown he comes with a Sickle in his hand Christ is reaping by every Judgement and Slaughter he makes and possibly you may out-live some Slaughters but look on further vers 17 18 c. And another Angel came out of the Temple which is in Heaven he also having a sharp Sickle and another Angel came out from the Altar which had power over fire and cried with a loud cry to him that had a sharp Sickle saying Thrust in thy sharp Sickle and gather the Clusters of the Vine of the Earth for her Grapes are fully ripe and the Angel thrust in his Sickle into the Earth and gathered the Vine of the Earth and cast it into the great Wine-press of the Wrath of God and the Wine-press was trodden without the City and Blood came out of the Wine-press even unto the Horses Bridles by the space of one thousand and six hundred furlongs The intendment of this Scripture is to tell you what the dread of Earthly People shall be they shall be cut down and trodden down and Blood shall come forth even to the Horses Bridles 2. In the day of Christs Glory they that are not Israel though they now escape shall be cut down without respect of Sex or Age without respect of greatness or contempt in the World it is evident from the Word In Isa 13.17 18. you have a Prophecy concerning Babylon of old which is applicable to Babylon still Behold I will stir up the Medes against them which shall not regard Silver and as for Gold they shall not delight in it their Bows also shall dash the young men to pieces and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the Womb their eye shall not spare Children It does intimate to us at what rate Christ will act when he comes out against them that are none of his he will neither spare nor pity have no respect to young or old nor shall mans being high or low be ought of defence or security to him The day of the Lord shall be upon the Cedars of Lebanon and upon the Oaks of Bashan and upon all the high Mountains the Great Ones of the World shall feel the dread of that stroke 3. Distress shall attend them within and without Job 15.20 21. The Wicked travelleth with pain all his days and a dreadful sound is in his Ears the dreadful sound is the pangs of their own Consciences being filled with terror And this shall be the portion of the World they shall be filled with dreadful sounds terrors within and also miseries shall compass them about in every thing and in every way Isa 19. it is said concerning Egypt They shall erre in every work and stagger as a drunken man 4. Miseries shall be recompenced upon them suitable to the violence done to the Saints the dishonour brought to God and the abusing of all the patience and forbearance of Christ towards them three sad scores that shall be reckoned for in the day of Christ Those that are not Israel though they escape
for a time they shall be dealt withall according to the violence done to the Saints of God The violence done to me and to my Flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitants of Zion say Isa 51.22 23. I have taken the cup of trembling out of thy hand that is out of Zions hand even the dregs of the cup of my fury thou shalt no more drink it again but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee which have said to thy Soul Bow down that we may go over and thou hast laid thy Body as the ground and as the street to them that went over They shall suffer too according to the contempt of the Gospel and the dishonour done to Christ that way for he shall come to deal with all them that do not know him and obey not the Gospel and also according to the sin of despising the forbearance of Christ Indeed this day you are escaped and the patience of Christ is exercised towards you but let me tell you if you stand and abide in your sinful state you shall find that the abusing of the patience of Christ is but treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath 5. Those that have escaped and not Israel they shall be compassed about with eternal Sorrows and shall never rise out of them Says the Church Though I fall I shall arise again and though I sit in darkness yet the Lord shall be a light to me Then shall she be confounded that is the Enemies of the Church shame shall cover her That will be the portion of every sinner though he may escape for a season shame shall cover him misery and distress shall abide him for ever VSE III. HAving dispatch'd the Second I come now to a Third Use which the former Uses necessarily lead unto It is a little to encourage the hearts of poor Sinners that possibly may be full of thoughts and desires that they might yet be brought into the number of Israel Methinks I do even hear some poor heart say If it be so well with them that are Gods Israel and so ill with them that are not Gods Israel What is there no hope for me though I am yet none of that number Must I for ever stay in that state of misery in which I am Must an eternal doom of Misery be entaild upon me I acknowledge my state is exceeding desperate and sad but is there no hope in Israel concerning this matter To that I answer If there be any poor sinner sensible of the misery of his condition that would gladly make an escape out of it Soul be not discouraged thy condition is not hopeless but be encouraged for there is a possibility that as thou hast escaped the dread and misery of this present day so thou mayst be delivered from that Christless state wherein thou art There are two Scriptures I would commend to you for this purpose the first is in Isa 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the Name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord and sirname himself by the Name of Israel The words are both a Prophecy and a Promise and they do respect the Gentile-World that were at that time and long after in their sins in their state of estrangement from God here it is prophesied that yet there should be a flocking into Israel the number of Gods Israel should be greatly augmented and encreased It is promised that God would so prevail upon the hearts of some poor Sinners that they shall come and say I am the Lords and shall come and subscribe their hands to the Lord and shall sirname themselves by the Name of Israel that God would conquer them so far that they should see the need they had to be of that number that they shall resign and give up themselves to be of the Israel of God This is an encouraging word to the Sinner there is a possibility for them that were strangers to come and to name themselves by the Name of Jacob and subscribing to the Lord to take up that Name and so partake of the Priviledges of the Israel of God Take another Scripture Isa 19.24 25. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a Blessing in the midst of the Land whom the Lord of Hosts shall bless saying Blessed be Egypt my People and Assyria the Work of my hands and Israel my Inheritance The import of the words is this Egypt and Assyria were some of the Enemies of God and his People at a very great distance from him but here is a Promise that they should come to be conquered and brought into subjection to the Lord and to be baptized into the Spirit of Israel to be blessed with the Blessing of Israel they shall speak the Language of Canaan they shall be of one Heart and one Lip with the Lords People Souls were you as Egypt and were you as the Assyrians Enemies to God and his People were you at the greatest distance from God that could be supposed Egypt had neither Ordinances nor Priviledges nor ought else that good was more then the creatures of the Earth and such-like things yet the Lord intimates here to us that they shall come to share in and divide a Blessing with Israel If thy estate were as one of them yet mayest thou as and according to the promise made to them be brought into the number that shall share in the Blessing of the Israel of God Therefore Soul though now thou art not of Israel yet it may be said to thee They have obtained Mercy which had not obtained This is the kindness of God that he is pleased to make blessed overtures of Mercy unto poor vile and unworthy Sinners But more then this for the encouragement of any Soul that may yet be in his Sins I would speak four or five things Thy condition is not desperate but thou mayst be brought into the number of the Israel of God and so partake of the same Mercy with them in thy escaping this day if thou dost consider 1. That Gods Israel came to be the People of God by choice and through the Grace and Goodness of God Israel were not born the People of God He chose Abraham and his Seed from the rest of the World to be a peculiar People to himself Hence it is that Israel often-times are called in Scripture Israel my CHOSEN so Psal 105.4 The Lord hath CHOSEN Jacob for himself and Israel to be his peculiar Treasure and in Isa 44.1 Israel is called there the Chosen of the Lord Yet now hear O Jacob my Servant and Israel whom I have CHOSEN They were chosen meerly from the good pleasure of God Choice it is a free Act in which there is no necessity and constraint so it was in God a free Act to pitch upon Israel to make them his People This account the Lord gives of it Deut.
4.37 And because he loved thy Fathers therefore he CHOSE their Seed after them and brought thee out in his sight with mighty power so Deut. 7.7 The Lord did not set his love upon you nor CHVSE you because you were more in number then any People for ye were the fewest of all People but because the Lord loved you c. At first God did out of his meer accord chuse Abraham and his Seed and having in love chosen them he continues his kindness and goodness to them that he might keep his Covenant and his Mercy that he promised to Abraham Poor Soul this I would now say to thee Israel was found out by the Lords Grace and that Grace may also fix upon thee It was not any thing that was in Israel but meerly the good pleasure of God that chose them to be his People and the same Grace of God may chuse thee and plant thee among his People and give thee with them a pleasant portion 2. When God first chose Israel he found them in as wretched and sad a condition as thine can be thy case cannot be worse then the case of Israel was when the Love and Grace of God fixed upon them Ezek. 16.1 Thus saith the Lord to Jerusalem Thy Birth and thy Nativity is of the Land of Canaan thy Father was an Amorite and thy Mother a Hittite Canaan were a People originally without the knowledge of God in their enmity against God This says God was Israel when first I found them without the knowledge of God and at as great a distance from God as persons could be Let the Devil say the worst against thee that he can he can but say thou art by nature at enmity with God filled with all the Principles of Sin and so was Israel as well as thou and that Grace that yet pitied Israel in this his low estate can also reach thy Soul 3. Israel when first God did him good was in as hopeless and helpless a condition as thine can be So he goes on Ezek. 16. And as for thy Nativity in the day thou wast born thy Navel was not cut neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee thou wast not salted at all nor swadled at all none Eye pitied thee to do any of these unto thee to have compassion upon thee but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast born What is more helpless and shiftless then an Infant just taken from the Womb not able to do its self the least service This was Israel's condition when the Lord first found them not in a capacity of moving one step out of that wretched sinful corrupt and rebellious state And truly to this day the Israel of God in themselves considered are altogether unable to act for God and his Glory but as they are assisted with power from on high Isa 45.24 25. Surely shall one say In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength even to him shall men come and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory Israel in their best state cannot glory in themselves nor in any strength of their own but must look upon themselves as weak Creatures onely as they are strengthened by the Lord unto any good Word and Work Soul this I would say Thou canst but be a shiftless helpless Creature unable to move a foot forward or to further thy own Everlasting Concernments in the least and this is to be in no worse state then God found his own People in and that Grace by which they were brought near to God can and may also work for the good of thy Soul 4. Consider further That the very same Promises of Mercy are made unto poor sinners to this day Promises of a part in those very good things which Israel is possessed of All the blessings of the Covenant are freely offered and tendred to Sinners to this hour Hence are all the gracious Promises made to the Gentiles up and down the Word of Truth of which you have more then a few The first of which as I suppose is in Gen. 9.27 God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem and Canaan shall be his Servant This is the first Promise ever made to the Gentiles and some render the word Deus alliciet Japhethum God shall allure or perswade Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem Japheth is put for the Gentile-World for by him the Isles of the Gentiles were inhabited Gen. 10.2 and 5. compared You shall find if you look in Luk. 3.36 and downward Christ was of the Race of Shem and the import of the Promise is this When God says he will perswaded Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem he means he will overcome the hearts of the Sinners among the Gentiles to come to an amity and friendship with Jesus Christ as co-habitation denotes amity and it is a word full of Grace and Favour as it can hold But more plain and full is that word Gal. 3.13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the Blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ It was the design both of the Father and the Son that all the Blessings of the death of Christ should reach unto the Sinners among the Gentiles that what ever Blessing was promised first to Abraham unto his Seed the same Blessing also should be made over and given in to every poor sinner among the Gentiles that shall come and submit themselves unto the Lord Jesus Well then Is not this greatly for thy comfort If thou sayest I am not Israel yet here is room and way made for thee It is the intendment both of Father and Son to let in thy Soul into all the Blessings and Mercies promised unto the Israel of God 5. Consider this also poor Sinner if thou art yet in thy sin and estrangement from God That it is the real design and intendment of God both in the Judgement that thou hast seen and the Escape thou hast had in and under these Calamities to bring thee among the number of his own People What is the design of God in all his Controversies with the World It is to bring them to kiss the Son the great Controversie is That People will not take the Yoke of Christ upon them and therefore sometimes he drives sometimes he draws and all means he uses that he may overcome the hearts of poor Sinners See the goodness he shews the mercy he follows them with in sparing and preserving them it is to this great end That his goodness might lead them to repentance and to a real subjection to the Lord Jesus Therefore Soul though thou hast stood long in ways of Rebellion against Christ
yet the Blessings of Israel stand open for thee and the Door of Grace is wide open be confident if thou dost enter in close with and accept of Grace it will be as well with thee as with any of the Israel of God Consider thy hearty closing with Christ will not onely let thee into Mercy and Blessing of the present Day but it will let thee into Blessings of all kinds it will bring a Blessing upon thee in every Work and Way it will let thee into a part and share in the highest Priviledges that the Children of Men are capable of it will let thee into Sonship and Friendship with the great and holy God it will make thee blessed for Time and for Eternity Therefore fight not against thy own Mercies mind really and heartily what freeness and heartiness there is in the great God in setting before sinners all the Grace of the Covenant and what gladness it doth produce when poor Souls are willing to kiss the Son it will not onely produce Joy in thy own Soul it will not onely make glad the hearts of many of thy Relations and of thy Friends for possibly thou hast Relations and Friends that long to see Christ formed in thee that in every petition at the Throne of Grace their hearts are working for thy Soul and begging that thou mayst be a plant of Righteousness of the Lords own planting and nothing would glad them more then to see thee a Son and Heir of the Kingdom of God but also there will be Joy in Heaven Father Son and Spirit are gladded to see the designs of the death of Christ graciously accomplished upon the hearts of poor sinners Remember therefore I do this day in the Name of Christ invite thee to partake of all the Mercies which be the Mercies of Gods Israel And truly the Mercies of Israel are many there is Pardon there is Purging there is Adoption Sonship there is the Spirit to comfort you to lead you in every work and way there be the Promises made over to them there is mercy now and for ever A Kingdom the Lord has prepared for them that love him I invite thee to take a part in these things this day and forget it not that thou hast had a Call from the Lord at this time Soul I tell thee if thou dost stand it out against this Call of God truly though thou art escaped and thy life is given thee for a prey yet thou maist possibly be sealed up unto destruction thou maist be left to dye in thy sins and to fall for ever under the weight of divine displeasure for thy neglect and contempt of Gospel-Grace Be confident as Jesus Christ is now waiting upon poor Souls and offering Mercy to poor Sinners so when he comes to the glory that is reserved for him he will be found of power sufficient to recompence all that have trodden under foot the Blood of the Son of God and made light of those overtures of Mercy that have been tendred to them The Light is now with thee and the Lord is calling of thee therefore make peace while thou art in the way lest the Lord come forth against thee in his hot displeasure VSE IV. SOme methinks there are that are of trembling hearts and they cry It is true I am escaped but I fear I am none of the Israel of God My Use therefore would be to such as are of trembling spirits When they consider how good God has been to them they may possibly tremble lest at last they should lose the Mercy of this Mercy because they are not found among the Israel of God Many a Soul there is possibly cries out Israels Priviledges are too great for me to hope to have a part in them and Israels Spirit is a Spirit more excellent then ever I have been found in and therefore though I am escaped this day yet I want that which is the best piece of the Mercy of an Escape I would answer Know this O Soul that among the Israel of God there are many that are of fearful Spirits although they are really among the number of the Lords precious Ones they have not an Eye to see it nor Faith to believe it and so may possibly go mourning many days But what are thy Objections What makes thee fear Do not fear thou know'st not what nor why As we are to give a reason of our Hope so I would not have you fear without a reason Objection 1. Methinks the Soul says Gods Israel are a chosen People and the Election of God lies deep it is a secret lock'd up in his Bosom and I fear I have no part in the Election of God I fear the eternal thoughts of God did not concern themselves about such a weak and worthless Worm as I am Answer It is true the Election of God is a secret in the heart of God and secret things belong unto God things written and revealed belong to us It is not for me or thee to climb Heaven to search Records and at first dash to turn over the leaves of the Book of Life and to see whether we may find our Names therein written It is a great mistake upon which many run that would think to prove the truth of their being called by finding out whether they are elected or no it is an endless it is an impossible work This therefore know is thy work and mine to consult what effects of Electing Love we can finde upon our Souls if any thing of that be in thy heart thence thou mayst safely conclude thou wast in the heart of God from Eternity There is a Scripture that answers fully I think whatever the Soul can say in this matter 1 Thes 1.4 5. Knowing Brethren beloved your Election of God for our Gospel came not unto you in word but also in power and in the holy Ghost and in much assurance as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake Consider whether the Gospel hath had its work upon thy heart whether it hath come with power upon thy Soul and if so others may know and thou mayst know from thence thine Election Election is an act of God that he passeth from Eternity but Calling is a work and Fruit of Election upon the Soul of a poor Sinner by which it may come to discover that it was in the thoughts of God before the foundation of the World was laid If therefore thou canst trace the footsteps of Gods going upon thy Soul and of his working in a Gospel-way upon thy heart thy Soul is safe and the thoughts of God thou mayst conclude were towards thee before thou hadst a being But Objection 2. The Soul objects I fear God hath not been at work upon me I could conclude Gods election of me if I could find a work of the Gospel passed upon my Soul I know the work of the Gospel is to cleanse and purifie the heart but sin and filthiness
if you are the Lords People in truth you are much in the heart of God and your Good in the very next place to his own and his Sons Glory is designed however he deals with you If he lets loose men upon you it is not with a design to hurt you Psal 66.12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads we went through fire and water but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place If he comes to thunder down Judgements upon the World it is with a design to do you good it is for your safety Isa 43.14 Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer the holy One of Israel For your sakes I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their Nobles and the Caldeans whose cry is in the Ships Christ in all his Administrations and in all the Dispensations of his Kingly Power from first to last aims at the good of his People and it is for their benefit that he acts however we are apt through blindness and ignorance to interpret it If he cuts down his People it is to do them good if he spares them it is because he delights in them and will make them partake of sparing-mercy How admirable is the kindness of the Lord and what effect should it have But 1. To teach you to see the hand of Christ in all and to sing forth the praises of the Lord your preservation is through Christ When the Passeover was instituted of old God bid the Israelites to sprinkle the Blood of the Lamb upon the door posts and when the Angel passed by to slay the first-born of Egypt he would pass by their doors that were sprinkled If the destroying Angel hath passed by your Doors and hath not come in it is because your post was sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus the Blood of the Lamb It is to Christ that you own it and O that the praises of the Lord might be sounded forth by you in Psal 22.3 God is said to inhabit the Praises of Israel it is a remarkable expression O Thou that inhabitest the Praises of Israel our Fathers trusted in thee and were delivered Israel should be a praising People and God delights in their Praises He loves to be where his Praises are spoken forth O that your habitations might be the habitations where the Praises of God might dwell and where the goodness of God may be sounded forth 2. Sure your escaping should make 〈◊〉 to be Holiness unto the Lord Hath the Lord written you unto Life as the expression is in this 4th of Isaiah Are you by his appointment and counsel in the Land of the living O then see that you be a People walking with him He says in this 4th of Isaiah to them that do escape that they shall be a holy People vers 3. It shall come to pass that he that is left in Sion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called Holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem O that every one written among the living this day might also be called Holy that is might be so for God calls things as they are There be great engagements lie upon our Souls that we live up to this expectation of God 3. Surely your work is to help forward the glory of Christ and your own good by all ways you can Faith and Prayer are the great means by which you may be serviceable to this great end We are apt to be faithless and unbelieving when things succeed not according to our desire and expectation but the work of the Soul is to wait for the salvation of God and to believe for the accomplishment of all that the Lord hath spoken to beg earnestly that God would remember his Promise that he would do according to the Faith of his People Whatsoever God has engaged himself to his People that he will do for them he expects that they should enquire of him for it 4. How much ought it to be your care to be found in a spirit fit to meet Christ in his glory There is great talk in the World of what expectations are upon the hearts of the Saints O that we could see suitable preparations in every Soul putting off the works of darkness and pressing after a Spirit of Humility and Holiness that we might be crucified to the World and raised up to a spiritual frame the day of Christs glory will be exceedingly filled up with spiritual things and a carnal earthly spirit will be loathed and abominable O then shake off the filth of sin and the filth of this World and put on your beautiful Garments that so you may be prepared to meet the Lord in his glory 5. Do you much pity Sinners When Christ shall come in his glory with what shame and confusion will poor sinners stand every heart will tremble and the proudest spirit will then stoop O pity them now for then you will have no pity for them the Righteous shall rejoyce when he sees the vengeance they will then onely triumph in the righteous Dispensations of God O pity them now and mourn over them and pray for them and pray them into Christ if possible and walk so before them that thou maist make them in love with the ways of God This is your work the Salvation of Sinners should be much upon your hearts if you know the worth of your own Souls And the more there are brought into Christ the greater will the solemnity be and the glory of this glorious appearance To close all therefore It is a sad day for the present even with the Saints of God and though we are preserved yet we and all our mercies lie open to we know not how much misery we and our best Priviledges how they may be dealt with we cannot tell however of this be confident That all this time the Lord is at work graciously for his People As he says in this fourth of Isaiah when he had said in the Text The Branch of the Lord should be glorious for them that are escaped he addes vers 4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughter of Zion In the â—ean time before this glory the Lord is waâ—â—ing away the filth of his People and purging out their dross that yet is among them that when his glorious appearing shall be you and all your Mercies will at once be delivered and as he says in the fifth verse The Lord will create upon every dwelling place in Mount Zion and upon her Assemblies a Cloud and Smoak by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the Glory shall be a defence Now we have our Opportunities with hazard and little Communion with God in them but at that day there shall be upon the Assemblies of Mount Zion a Cloud The Cloud in the Temple was the token of Gods presence God will be among his People And upon their Glory shall be a defence They shall be safe from the fear of evil and God will bless his People with peace He will bless them out of Zion Laus Deo Opt. Max. FINIS