Truth And considering in my Mind the exceeding preciousness and necessity of the Truth in order to bring others and my self unto eternal Life it being equally necessary for that end as Meat and Drink to keep and preserve temporal Life as eternal Life is much beyond and better than this present temporal Life yea more then Ten Thousand fold here to allude unto those words of the Apostle Yet I had rather speak five words with my understanding that by my voice I might teach others also than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue In like manner if I had so much Money I had rather bestow five Pounds towards the Publishing of God's eternal Truth which is to feed up the Soul unto eternal Life then Ten Thousand Pounds to feed the Poor that is to feed their Bodies only Or suppose I had wherewithal and I did bestow five Pounds towards the Publishing of God's eternal Truth and also I did indeed bestow Ten Thousand Pounds towards feeding of the Poor yet I should have more expectation of a better Reward from God for the five Pounds expended that way than from the Ten Thousand Pounds distributed the other way because of the so much more Excellency and Preciousness of Truth which is for the saving of the Soul over outward Alms which is only for feeding of the Body It is the Command of God Buy the Truth and sell it not also Wisdom Instruction and Understanding For should not People lay out their Money to help forwards the saving of their Souls as the Truth doth Yet contrariwise People do day after day buy Meat and Drink to feed their Bodies but they grudge and will not lay out their Money for such Books wherein are contained the Words of Truth which are requisite and necessary to feed up the Soul unto eternal Life and to make it prepared for the Lord all one as Meat and Drink are necessary to nourish and keep the Body in Life The reason why People do not alike in one Case as in the other is besides that enmity against the Truth which is a Root of bitterness springing up and troubling them and thereby many are defiled Heb. 12. 15. Because also they are not alike sensible of the necessity of the Truth to the saving of the Soul as they are sensible of the necessity of Food in order to feed the Body But when that time is come which hasteneth upon all us living when now Meat is for the Belly and the Belly for Meats but God shall destroy both it and them The Grass withereth The Flower fadeth and so all material visible things come to an utter end and shall be no more at all but the word of our God shall stand for ever Then shall ye return and discern of what necessity the knowledge of the Truth would have been to the saving of your Souls much more than ye can now discern in these Days of your flesh and ye will then be more sensible of that reproof of the Spirit of God Wherefore do you spend Money for that which is not Bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Isa 55. 2. Wherefore do People spend all their Money for that Bread which was only for the support of this dying Life whereas it it is his requiring also that they should Consecrate their gain unto the Lord and their substance towards the Lord of the whole Earth Micah 4. 13. And towards the making known his Truth Even then at the very time of receiving it might be perceived that the outward Bread though indeed it did feed the Body yet it did not satisfie the Soul and so it was not Bread to the Soul as it was to the Body Man doth not live by Bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lord doth Man live By the Word of God the Soul is to live eternally This is that Bread which cometh down from Heaven not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are Dead and so they that have what can be desired for Food and Rayment must die He that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever Now we are taken up chiefly if not wholly with things sensible then we shall be let into things Spiritual and they will by their remaining always before us be then the whole of our Thoughts although perhaps now it be none or the least of all It will be the Question and Reproof in the state of Eternity Why People did in the Days of their Flesh bestow their labour for that which satisfieth not The Scene will then change things will then appear opposite and contrary to what they do now O thou that dwellest upon many Waters abundant in Treasures thine end is come and the measure of thy Covetousness Jer. 51. 13. Then it will appear how little it doth sifnifie to have heaped up Riches and gotten Gain or to have been Cumbred abovt many things when one thing was needful and we should have chosen the better part which would not have been taken from us now all other things shall fail Then also it will most eminently and clearly appear how that Man did throughout this Life on Earth walk in a vain shew And he disquieted himself in vain He heapeth up Riches and knoweth not who shall gather them There is somewhat alike to this in Hab. 2 6. Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his How long And to him that ladeth himself with thick clay O that such People would consider of this who make it their main and principal end of Life and consume almost all their time in getting of Money or Riches They know not or are not sensible of as much or at least they do not take such warning so as to refrain how that the Spirit of God doth pronounce a Wo against them To Build and another shall Inhabit or to Plant and another shall eat the Fruit thereof is according to the Curse of God in the Book of Deuteronomy as also it is a Discouragement Vexation and Disquiet to the Creature in its seeking and labouring thereafter That increaseth that which is not his Ay but saith the Creature it is mine when I have it To which the Answer of God presently and immediately succeeds How long That is How long will it be before it is taken from thee Or how long will it be before thou shall be taken from it One Day will certainly come when it shall be no longer his when he shall be dislodged from this Tenement of Clay that is the Body and then he can no longer lade himself with thick Clay that is heap up Silver or Gold Let People be never so much Busied or Employed in heaping up Riches or getting Estates yet the Forty Ninth Psalm lies express against them For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away his Glory shall not descend after him By reason that Death is to succeed and shut up all Therefore Man walketh in a vain shew Surely they
more readily thou wilt subscribe and inwardly assent unto the truth of what the Spirit of God saith by the Psalmist Surely every Man walketh in a vain shew Surely they are disquieted in vain He heapeth up Riches and knoweth not who shall gather them Secondly I would apply the foregoing Discourse as to my Publishing the Truths of God unto the People of this my Generation and Country and as to their receiving of them One principal Consideration which first brought me acquainted with the Ways of God was concerning the vanity of all things of this World And there was a desire in me if I might somewhat take off from this vanity of things by real and enduring actions It is certain that nothing remains in a Man but what he doth in the service of God and for the good of his own Soul and all his doings besides that great end are vain Which Consideration throughly weighed should instruct and exhort those who shall hear or read these words to frame and bring all their doings towards this great end of serving God and saving their Souls or for the good of them For whatever their Hand finds them to do besides is vain Even our week day Labour in our several Callings and Occupations which takes up most of our time may be all brought under this great end And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3. 23 24. Even so in whatever we Labour or are Employed Provided always it be in things Lawful and Right and in compliance with and obedience unto that primitive Ordinance of God In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread It may be also Spiritualized and referred up towards God by having our heart fixed on the invisible God at the very same time According to what David saith My heart is fixed My heart is fixed And so in our several Work and Business in our Trade and Employment we may serve God and Christ also The Huâ—band-man whilst his Hand is upon his Plow may have his heart upon God at the very same time and then altho the Plowing of the Wicked is Sin yet all things are good to the Godly and this last Person even in his Plowing may and doth serve God So it may be as to others whilst each one is handling the Tools or Instruments of his respective Trade or Employment Let him lift up his heart unto God in the Heavens and have the desire of his Soul towards him that he may please and find Acceptance with him and then all along he will in his Labour serve the Lord and so his Labour will not be in vain in the Lord But after that he hath therein served God in his Generation he shall at last enter into the Rest which remaineth for the People of God Although he did meet with weariness in his Earthly Pilgrimage yet abundant compensation will be made for all When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord Acts 3. 19. The same wise Man who saith All is Vanity saith also All things are full of labour But thus it might be ordered even by referring it up towards God who is the beginning and end of all things that we may not labour in vain but labour in hope to come and partake of those good things which the Lord God hath promised For all People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Micah 4. 5. So it is seen that though we are in a World of vain things and in the very midst of them yet every one is for going on in his own ways That expression is very observable And Samuel said into the People Fear not ye have done all this wickedness yet turn not aside from following the Lord but serve the Lord with all your heart and turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain 1 Sam. 12. 20 21. Here it is expresly said that if People turn aside from following the Lord then they go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain But further even in the things pertaining to God and Religion if People Walk in a way that was not good after their own thoughts Isa 65. 2. And go according to their own imaginations and not according to the Rule and Direction of God's written Word Here also they go after vain things which cannot profit that is not avail to the saving of their Souls nor deliver from the Wrath to come and from the fierceness of the Wrath of Almighty God For they are vain And yet how many nevertheless do outwardly serve God and mind Religion only according to the thoughts of their own Corrupt and Ignorant Heart and they do content themselves meerly with the customary Worship and formal Religion of the multitude although Christ Jesus who is The Way the Truth and the Life saith expresly Except your Righteousness shall exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven In like manner it may be truly reasoned Except your Religion shall exceed the common customary and outside Religion of the multitude ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and it will not be a Religion Unto the saving of the Soul How many do even on the Lord's Holy-day stand in the The doors of their houses Ezek. 33. 30. Or sit in the Chimny-corner or walk in the Fields Finding their own Pleasure and speaking their own words both which are reproved Isa 58. 13. And talking of vain things Which cannot profit nor deliver nor do them one jot of good as to their own Salvation rather than they will hear or read the good Word of God Or meditate in his Law day and night They are like The deaf Adder that stoppeth her ear which will not hearken to the voice of Charmers Charming never so wisely Psal 58. 4 5. Yea even amongst the seemingly Religious also are found those who shew forth much Sin and Stubbornness against some part of what is in truth the Word God But unto Israel he saith observe that word Israel for it is not there said unto the Heathen All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying People Rom. 10. 21. So it is unto the Named Israel For all are not Israel who are of Israel Rom. 9. 6. Unto the Professors and those who call themselves Christians and not altogether to the prophane and ungodly sort he saith I have stretched forth my hands all the Day unto a disobedient and gainsaying People as truly such are the People of this my Generation and Country Who reject and receive not my Ministry of the Word for the same and
alike Reasons as the Jews did reject and not receive the Words of Christ Herein we shall have boldness in the Day of Judgment which will be fear and shame and confusion of face to them in this matter Because as he was so are we in this present World Namely because that in my Preaching and Writing I have so learned from him my Lord and Example whose steps herein I follow I do also teach the way of God in truth neither care I for any Man for I regard not the person of Men Mat. 22. 16. For if I yet pleased Men I should not be the Servant of Christ Wherefore holy Brethren partakers of the heavenly Calling consider the Apostle and high Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house Heb. 3. 1 2. And so I do make it my sincere and actual endeavour to be faithful to that God who appointed me to the Ministry of his Word by his having enabled me and given me a knowledge thereof and by putting words into my Mouth and so I make it my endeavour to be faithful in all the Ministration thereof He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Jer. 23. 28. Moreover it is required in Stewards that a Man be found faithful 1 Cor. 4. 2. And because I have not shunned to declare unto the People of this my Generation and Country all the the counsel of God But in the things I have written unto them I have mentioned some Scriptures which other Preachers and Scribes have omitted Mat. 23. 23. Therefore they reject and receive not that part of the Word of God which hath been committed to my Ministration Speaking evil of me Who for this their falshood and Partiality Mal. 2. 9. Stubbornness and Rebellion shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead Thirdly Seeing that all things here on Earth are vain and Man the chief inhabitant thereof walketh in a vain shew How should this Knit and Unite our Hearts up unto God himself and also towards the future state of things for all there is Reality and Substance God himself is the most real and substantial being that can be for he created all things and now upholds them by the Word of his Power If any thing is real God himself is much more so and so likewise are all the things pertaining to his Kingdom in Heaven The Creature was made subject to vanity God made all things on this Earth so vain to the intent to draw off our Desires and Affections yet more from the things of this World to fix and set them on himself and the things above that in our earnest continued seeking after Earthly things they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ who mind Earthly things we may meet with this kind of Check and Reproof from our Creator O ye Sons of Men How long will ye turn my Glory into shame how long will ye love vanity and seek after leasing Selah Psal 4. 2. Importing that whilst the Sons of Men do love vanity and seek after leasing So long they turn the glory of God into shame In that hereby they do quite pervert the very design and order of things For whereas God designed his own Glory in making Man a reasonable Creature that is one capable to seek after himself and the things of the other and better World But by loving vanity and seeking after leasing Man doth degenerate himself And being made in Honour he abideth not When it would be for the Honour and Glory of God if he did pursue the right end but by not doing or intending that he doth properly turn the Glory of God into shame For it would be a shame if an alwise God should make reasonable Creatures for no better and higher an end than to love vanity and seek after leasing Whereas here the fault is in the Creatures themselves and in no wise in God who Created them In like manner every act of Sin doth turn the Glory of God into shame for the same Reason because it is a perverting of things from what he first made and designed them for he Created Man to serve God and do Good and not that he should Corrupt himself by committing Sin and Evil or by loving vanity and seeking after leasing Vanity is displeasing unto the Lord as Sin and Evil is For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that not so much as Vain thoughts should lodge within ye Jer. 4. 14. And that People should not speak vanity Psal 12. 2. nor trust in vanity Isa 59. 4. Much less commit or do the same But as we are commanded Not to touch the unclean thing So we are to refrain from all vain things as much as it is possible to do in this vain World which passeth away According to the Exhortation which speaketh on this wise If ye then be risen in Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the Right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the Earth For ye are Dead and your Life is hid with Christ in God When Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Glory Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common Salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you and put you in mind of the vanity of all things of this World that People should not forsake God and depart from the Faith once delivered to the Saints nor go aside from the Truth out of Love to this present World but that ye should Love God more and the World not at all For if any Man loveth the World the love of the Father is not in him So Witnesseth and Exhorteth RICHARD STAFFORD a Scribe instructed in the Law of God and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ LONDON Printed in the Year 1700. And are to be Sold unto such who will receive the love of Truth that they might be Saved Advertisement THese are to give notice That I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own Composing lying by me in Manuscript Which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this World's Goods would According to their several Ability Acts 11. 29. Thus Consecrate some part of their gain and substance unto the Lord Micah 4. 13. So as to be ready to distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. And for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a Good work in such Persons who shall be helpful and any ways assistant herein for which they would be rewarded by God in the Life that is to come And I say unto you Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may receive you into Everlasting Habitations Luke 16. 9. Charge them that are rich in this World that they do Good that they be Rich in Good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against tbe time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17. 18. 19. This is a faithful saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain Good Works these things are Good and Profitablsi unto Men Titus 3. 8.