the same Mould he fashioned them all The poorest acknowledge that they are as much minded by God as the rich and so far they are right but then they go further Exod. 30. 15. and make themselves his only Favourites The ground of this Error is through Mis-application of those Promises in Scripture concerning this Condition But let them not be deceived for where is any mention made of spiritual good things it is to those Poor only who walk in their Integrity Hath not God chosen the Poor of this World the Apostle doth not say all of them but those who are rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 5. 2. So they must believe and love God and then they must avoid sinning against him otherwise they have no place in Heaven Indeed many of them do so and more would if they did apply themselves to God and the Word of his Grace which is able both to bring in and build up Those whom the Proud ones call the ordinary sort of People will make the greater number in Heaven We see more of them allowing for their multitude that Practice Simplicity and Godly Sincerity then we can amongst those of higher rank for these have altogether broken the Yoke and burst the bands Jer. 5. 5. Being governed by Self-will and their own humour more then the Laws of God but the others are not altogether so forgetful and refractory And have a good will towards God in General but the Prophet remarks truly how Jer. 5. 4. they have not that knowledge which is to be desired for They understand not the things of Religion so well as they should but follow their own Opinions and Fancies Satan which deceiveth the whole World Rev. 12. 9. Hath taken advantage thereof instilling into them errors and deceits If you would indeed be in the right way to Heaven and not miss thereof at last give attendance to that Word which is to shew unto all the Path of Life When some have well resolved then they are distracted about Of different Communious the way one saith it is this another that It is agreed by all that the Scriptures do shew what is right so what they point out it is good to â—oâ—â—ow They give the Character of some who Taught the way of God in Truth Mat. 22. 16. Acts 16. 17. And therefore according to what is Written those both said and did it may be most surely trusted unto There have been Questions and different Opinions in past Ages but little is said of them in Holy Writ The Prophets make no mention of them speaking against Idolatry but say nothing as to Modes of Worship Our Saviour Speaks little concerning those Separate Meetings in his time and doth not express much zeal one waâ— or another His Apostles followed the same steps One witnesseth In every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Acts. 10. 35. Being applyed to Cornelius a Gentile as may be gathered from Acts 11. 18 The diversity here was greater then amongst several Communions of Christians aâ— this day and therefore much more will they be saved in each Another Apoâ—â—le saith Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing b 〈…〉 thâ— kâ—â—p 〈…〉 of the Commandments of God 1 Cor. 7. 19. In Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing noâ— uncircumcision but Faith which worketh by love Gal. 5. 6. A new Creature Gal. 6. 15. That was as important a Question as those in controversie now bâ—t there is not so much in them as Obedience and Holiness To which aâ—â—â—e the promises of God are and nothing at all to those distinguishing terms of Perswasion among us It is evident from Psal 25. 12 14. John 7. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10. Phil. 3. 15. That whosoever sincerely fears God with his whole heart shall be directed into all necessary and saving Truth and then he must lay aside all Prepossessions and Prejudice Pride Humour Wordly Reasons coming in simplicity of Soul only out of a desire to be right and receive the love of the Truth that he may be saved 2 Thes 2. 10. For this is evident Continuance in a willful and known error is as dangerous as a willful and known sin and therefore to be equally avoided The Word doth discover Good and Evil Truth and Falshood so the Duty of every one is to set his Conscience as in the light of God with a readiness to think and do what is most according to his revealed Will and then he shall never perish through errour or falshood All Worship is designed to please and obtain acceptance with Almighty God. The hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4. 23. But this doth in no wise excuse from an humble bodily gesture and reverence of the outward Man the Subjection of both is to be shewed Therefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which are Gods 1 Cor. 6. 20. Certainly this Apostle knew what was a Gospel and Spiritual Worship yet He kneeled down and Prayed Acts 20. 36. The like did our Saviour Luke 22. 41. And Stephen and Peter Acts 7. 60 Acts 9. 40. It is to be observed in Publick Worship for so did Paul that being more Solemn and whereby God is Glorified Though the Lolling sort of behaviour is so much in use among the Country People when they come into the presence of God let them use it before their Governour or Great Men How will they be pleased with it And if they will not neither will he who even now remains a Great King and his Name is dreadful among the Heathen Mal. 1. 8 14. And though some may think that no more then another place yet they may consider what our Lord did John 2. 16 17. Mark 11. 15 16 17. Signifying plainly that more regard is to be had to the House of Prayer so called of all Nations and People extending to the Gospel Isa 56. 7. times when they come in The Apostle finds fault with the Corinthians abusing of the Sacrament making a Common Meal of it Have ye not Houses to eat or drink in or despise ye the Church Psal 29. 9. of God 1 Cor. 11. 22. The subject of that Chapter is about a comely behaviour in the Holy Assemblies What can be said to these plain Scriptures or how can they excuse themselves from Sin in not observing them Let Men put what meaning they will God is judge himself and they may at the last day be severely reproved for not obeying that command the reason whereof is eternally Obligatory Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Lev. 19. 30. The design of the whole Gospel is Peace Unity and Love see Rom. 12. 18. Rom. 16 17. 1 Cor. 1. 10. 1 Cor. 10. 17. 2 Cor. 13. 11. Phil.
there could not be respect enough paid unto him How will he fume and rage and yet there is no Remedy to see his Principalities come down and the Crown of his former Glory to be taken away Jer. 13. 18. and himself thrust into an everlasting Dungeon For softness and ease to have Pain and Fire for sweet Smells the stench of Sulphur for a Bed of Damask to be rolled up and down in a stream of Brimstone for all manner of Musick to hear worse noise then Screech Owls or the yawling of Cats All this must be a sad Change. To Consider that he hath lived heretofore in all Splendour will increase his Anguish of mind The greatest Person is as much obliged to be obedient unto God as he that sitteth upon the Dunghil Who will render to every Man according to his Deeds To them who by Patient continuance in Well doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality eternal Life Rom. 2. 6. 7. The Gods of the Earth have the two first already but not the last annexed to it All their Goodliness is as the Flower of the Field the Grass withereth the Flower fadeth so likewise the Crown of their Glory sadeth away The Head which bears it waxes old or is laid in the Dust before Put not your trust in Princes nor in the Son of Man in whom there is no help the Reason is added His breath goeth forth he returneth to his Earth in that very day his Thoughts Perish there is an utter end of all his Pomp and Greatness Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help whose Hope is in the Lord his God Psal 146. 3 4 5. That when all other things fail he may be received up unto Glory If he hath a right unto the Promises that when he comes to leave his fine Cities that of his own especial Residence all his Courtiers Now he is come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Company of Angels To the general Assembly and Church of the first-born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and the Spirits of just Men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant Heb. 12. 22 23 24. What joy will he find among the Heavenly Host To have David Hezekiah Constantine Theodosius and other righteous Kings gratulate his coming With what joy will he give up his Account of ten Talents to the great King and receive his Commendation with a proportionable Reward His Authority is not taken away but increased He is not troubled at the Loss of his worldly Grandeur and Pomp Rev. 21. for that was but as the shining of rotten Wood in a dark place in Comparison of what he now enjoys which is ten thousand times more by seeing the Lord of Glory He did not put his Confidence in terrestial Splendour but using it as Convenient for the imperfection of that State. The good Kings of Israel and Judah had Jer. 22. 4. their Courts and Palaces He took a great Care not to forget God noâ— to be litted up but had an Eye all along upon the Glory which excelleth He shall be abundantly satiâ—fied with the fatness of thy House and thou shalt make him drink of the River of thy Pleasures for with thee is the Fountain of Life Psal 36 8. 9. And then â—e must look with Indignation and Contempt upon those sinful Delights for which these are too often lost The Crown of Gold here hath a Cross upon the top in token of Subjection to our crucified Lord but that is better manifested by doing the things he saith and also it was a fit Emblem of the Concomitant trouble for though beset with precious Stones it hath a Pungency like a Crown of Thorns However he must be more exceedingly pleased when that which was Troublesome and Corruptible is taken away and there is set a Crown of pure Gold on his Head a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away and all this done unto him by God himself whom before having Honoured now he is pleased to Honour 2 Sam. 2. 30. The King had here all Conveniences of Life but did not place his chief Happiness in them He then received them with Prayer and Thanksgiving not abusing them to sin and wickedness they are all past and over now he is much more as an Angel of God for he neither eats nor drinks nor stands in need of those things which were given by reason of imperfection The want of that Company below is abundantly made up in the Communion of Saints Here he conversed with those of his own Generation and Countrey but there is the gathering together of every Age since the World began of every part who came from the East and West and are sate down with Abraham in the Kingdom of God. Also they are made Perfect and all those things done away which render Conversation unpleasant in the World There it is refined all having those excellent Qualities which endear each other and make Society pleasant He had formerly sufficient to defray the great Charges of his Kingdom to preserve it from Invasion and Sedition but Covetousness is Idolatry and expresly forbidden to Kings Deut. 17. 17. for the Reasons there given Neither by the Law of Justice is he to impoverish his People and therefore to be avoided by him who would come to the City of pure Gold which belongeth to every Citizen but is peculiar to none as now is the Light of the Sun. Saith the Royal Psalmist As for me I will behold thy Face in Righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness Psal 17. 15. All Earthly and Sensual Happiness hath been found vain and unsatisfactory but the spiritual and heavenly is sufficient to raise our utmost Affections and Duty to the Author thereof Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither have entred into the heart of Man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him All the Endeavours and Wisdom of the World could not find it out But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit 1 Cor. 2. 9 10. Which spake by those Holy Men of old out of whose Writings this Description hath been brought These things are great and wonderful but then it is surmised they are distant and uncertain and why should Men foregoe present and sensible Pleasures for future and imaginary Here is the great objection of Mankind against the things of God and their own Happiness and therefore to press the word of Exhortation home it is necessary to say somewhat towards the removal thereof As for being afar off that should be no prejudice for that which is future will be as much present as the time now is Time was when to day which is called to day was future and yet this is present as were those which have been past The next year is to come and that will be here as the last was
burning by a meer perswasion only then also men might escape the damnation of Hell by only thinking there is no such thing To argue there is no God because the Foâ—l hath said so in his heart Psal 14. 1. is as ridiculous as it would be for one to pretend to extinguish the light of the Sun by shutting his eyes Let them think he is not or he sleepeth doth not concern himself with the affairs of Mankind yet himself hath said I AM THAT I AM Exod. 3. 14. and declares himself in that Magnificent manner Deut. 32. 40 41 42 43. So let all the world say to the contrary it signifieth not The word he hath spoken shall stand and he will do according to it let all mankind dispute or think what they will. If they will not believe they must perish in their unbelief if they do that but will not give heed to obey the truth thereof they also shall be punished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Both these are follies so great that there wants a name to express them yet this last seems to be greatest for there are in Scripture such forcible arguments to obedience that who believes must be as absolute a fool or madman if they do not work upon him as he who refuses a great Estate when offered or run himself into a fire when he may pass by and avoid it Go ye into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 15 16. said our Lord to his Disciples Which may prevent the Whispering of Court-Chaplains that Christ gave no command to Kings if they are not Creatures they have an immunity from Gods Law otherwise not When only in Judah God was known he expected Obedience from the King thereof all one as from the People yea rather more for the spirit of God takes particular notice who served him and who did not with account of those Mercies and Judgments they received accordingly as every one knows who doth read the Old Testament But now the fulness of time is come to which belongs that â—rophesie Kings shall be her nursing Fathers and Queens her nuâ—sing Mothers It was some considerable time after Christ and his Apostles were upon the Earth before any King or Emperour was converted to the Faith and even now it is only so of one part of the World defaced with much Corruption Wickedness and Ignorance So we are to expect a further and universal fulfilling of Isa 60 3. 11. Psal 72 11. Psal 102. 15 22. Rev. 11. 15. and chap. 21. vers 24 26. Themselves are subject to the only Potentate the King immortal invisible and only Wise God if they are so â—reely he accepts thereof but if they will reign wholly themselves and not let him reign over them if they do not glorify the God in whâ—sâ— hand their breath is Dan. 5. 23. he will account with them when that is taken away and manifest that he is stronger They are Potsherds of the Earth though of the largest size yet between them and their Maker is but alike difference being infinite in both as between the High and Lofty one and the meanest Man. They came here to the same end and purpose as others they also were designed to set forth the glory of God though in a more eminent manner they are made to act according to his Laws both as they relate to their private capacity as Men and to the publick of Kings as they must answer for themselves to the Lord who is high above all the Earth who is exalted far above all Gods Psal 97. 9. Happy is he who doth comply with this will of the Almighty That hath learnt to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of his Law and his Statutes to do them whose heart is not lifted up above his Brethren and doth not turn aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to left to the end he may prolong his days in his Kingdom he and his Children in the midst of Israel Deut. 17. 19 20. In his own Country and Dominion that ended he may be received up into Gods Kingdom above for this promise is come in under the Gospel Neither is the other taken away but rather obscured that is not so much mentioned under the Manifestation of the Greater the like promise remains still annexed to the first Commandment Ephes 6. 2 3. And here is the alike reason The observation of the conditions of the promise do according to Gods establishment of things tend towards the obtaining of it and so on the contrary it is of the threatnings which come on by sin and ignorance But further Gods special providence is over his own People and more particularly over his Anointed It is he that giveth Salvation unto Kings Psal 144. 10. Not that all good Kings have always temporal deliverances for there is the example of Josiah who had that excellent Character 2 Kings 23. 25. The reason of whose untimely Death seems to be given in the verse following If God doth sometimes let the Righteous fall his wayes are justice and goodness it is not for ever for it will be abundantly made up in the day of recompence But Jehosaphat sought to the Lord God of his Father and walked in his Commandments and not after the doings of Israel therefore the Lord established the Kingdom in his hand and all Judah brought to Jehosaphat presents and he had riches and honour in abundance 2 Chron. 17. 4 5. Something may be hence gathered for God is the same still No accepter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him Acts 10. 34 35. Let the King be assured that if he cleaves unto God with his whole heart and puts away Idolatry and false Worship he shall have Temporal or Eternal Salvation that most commonly this most certainly but rather both It is so well pleasing unto God when those obey him whom he hath placed in the highest Room on Earth that he rewards them here and hereafter To rule according to Gods Commandments is the most safe way to preserve them in the Royal Seat of their Ancestors In mercy shall the Throne be established and he shall sit upon it in Truth in the Tabernacle of David judging and seeking judgment and hasting Righteousness Isa 16. 5. Did not thy Father Eat and Drink and do Judgment and Justice and then it was well with him be judged the cause of the Poor and Needy then it was well with him was not this to know me saith the Lord Jer. 22. 16. Every one that hath but the common sence of humanity must love honour and obey him and these will be such a safe-guard to his person that those his implacable Enemies whom no goodness can overcome will be forced to lick the dust for a Good
will rise up again for we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the thing done in his Body according to what he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. We are only proved here how we will behave our selves towards God. It is worth while to look further to consider Man in his several Circumstances State and Condition in this World with some general Heads of Good and Evil that are set before him if he may be stirred up or put in mind of some things for his own Happiness and Safety CHAP. II. Of Man confidered in his threefold Condition Original Corrupted and Restored Of his Thoughts VVords and Actions Infancy Youth Manhood therein of Company and Marriage Of Old Age Body Senses and sensual Pleasure Of the Soul Vnderstanding VVill Affections as Love Fear Joy Sorrow Anger Hope Of Temptations The Close THou hast made Man a little lower then the Angels and hast Crowned him with Glory and Honour Psal 8. 5. One part is of the dust of the ground the other the breath of Life a reasonable Soul in which he hath resemblance to the angelical Nature and is exalted above Beasts His Happiness in the state of Innocency and how it was lost by Transgression is known by every one that reads the Scripture again he was redeemed by our Lord and Saviâ—ur Jesus Christ Rom. 5. 17 18 19. 1 Pet. 3. 18. If we are not wanting to our selves he hath restored us to as great a Capacity of good as we should have had if our Forefather had not sinned God so loved the World that he gave his only Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God towards us because he laid down his Life for us and greater love then this hath no Man then to lay down his Life for another 1 John 3. 10. The holy Spirit inspires Grace and good Motions into our hearts whom if we do not resist and so grieve he will Seal us to the day of Redemption We feel the mischievous workings of Original Corrruption and we have the same quality of our first Parent to Lust after forbidden things A coveting after Evil and averseness to Good. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Moâ—her conceive me Psal 51. 5. It is intermixed and grows up with every part that we all are as prone to Evil as the Sparks to fly upward Indeed goodness doth appear reasonable and lovely yet our Inclinations are backwards to the Practise of it there is a Close hankering after and Preference of the contrary The whole Man is defiled Mark 7. 21 22 23. Gen. 8. 21. Eccles 3. 9. He deviseth iniquity in his Bed he studies to do mischief His Thoughts are vain He takes no delight in Good but rather on Lust Pride and all manner of Concupisence Every mouth speaketh folly Isa 9. 17. Evil Communications Filthiness Deceit Lying and all sorts of Evil proceed out of it With Blasphemies and horrid Oaths he is dishonoured who enabled it to Speak With this Sword it is endeavoured to give our blessed Redeemer more Wounds and to crucifie him afresh The tongue is a fire a World of iniquity so is the tongue amongst our Members that it defileth the whole Body and setteth on fire the course of Nature and is set on fire of Hell. Therewith bless we God even the Father and therewith curse we Men which are made after the simitude of God Jam. 3. 6 9. Our Actions proceeding from the same corrupt Stock are of the like Nature Wise to do evil and forward to put in Execution what our wicked hearts conceive Every Member is wicked and abominably wicked Their inward part is very wickedness Psal 5. 9. and as it is further described Rom. 3. 10. to ver 18. Man is become as sinful as is possible for such a poor Creature to be with short Faculties and Powers they are stretched forth to the utmost he sins till he hath not Ability to sin any more though he hath not wherewithal to vent yet the malicious and corrupt Desire is infinite in a little finite Being The Seeds of Evil came in with the forbidden Fruit. But we must not accuse Adâ—m of our Transgression more then is due for it is our own fault if we suffer it to grow forth and improve it to that monstrous height It may be hewn down and destroyed but still the stump of the Dan. 4. 23. Roots is left in the Earth The holy One that came down from Heaven hath got this Priviledge and Power for us The Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the World could even at this present time extirpate it quite Root and Branch but that he is not pleased to do for wise Reasons yet now he puteth in such a Condition and Ability to perform so much as in and through him will be accepted and we shall come to that place where this accursed thing with all its remainders shall utterly be done away If we come unto him and sincerely do what is required under the second Covenant Christs righteousness will supply our defects The filthy Rags Isa 64. 6. Shall be cast away and we shall be arrayed in fine Linnen clean and White For the Fine Linnen is the righteousness of Saints Rev. 21. 8. What then shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound God forbid Those which make this damnable inference do mistake the Gospel Covenant which requires obedience and good Works Tit. 2. 11 12 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. Heb. 5. 9. Christ hath brought good tidings and published Peace and brought good tidings of good and published Salvation Isa 52. 7. The same Jesus hath said Those which do iniquity shall be cast into a Furnace of fire Mat. 13. 41 42. Luk. 13. 27 28. He hath proclaimed the acceptable Year of the Lord and the Day of vengeance of our God Isa 61. 2. The Gospel is commonly said to be all mercy yet therein the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of Men Rom. 1. 18. so 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9. The end of both Law and Gospel is obedience by this we are freed from the Curse Gal. 3. 10 13. We have further the assistance of the holy Spirit to resist Temptations and keep Gods Commandments The stony Heart is taken away and an Heart of flesh is given Whereas the whole Man is corrupted now he is put into a way to be right again if he will use the Grace given him He may run counter to his natural State and be sanctified throughout A good Man out of the good Treasure of the Heart bringeth forth good things Mat. 12. 35. After those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts Jer. 31. 33. So we may draw near with a true Heart in full assurance of Faith having
places from whence he lifts up his Eyes and as he surveys the Creation in the height in the length and breadth all things appeaâ— little and inconsiderable below As he there takes a Prospect he is not ravished with the glittering Pomp of Worldly Grandeâ—r A numerous Army make a goodly shew to By-standers but seems to him as a Company of fabulous Pigmies and the greatest Commander is looked on as a small despicable Creature Populous Cities and all the Inhabitants thereof are as a Bee-hive some going in and some coming out Men walking in a vain Shew and disquieted in vain Ps 39. 6. The best way to despise the World is to behold it from some great exceeding high Mountain By meditation in Retirement and observation in the Streets we may at length have a true apprehension of the very Nature of things freed from that deceitful varnish and appearance But they are discovered to be transient little and unsatisfactory so there is less Temptation to fix up a Rest here but we are moved to seek that which remaineth for the People of God. If we did always run up and down the City we should not be so sensible of this the Heart will not Soar up where true Joys are only to be found when it is pressed down with the fancied Delight of Buying Selling and getting Gain It is necessary to come out from Worldly business and to be alone Which is not so unpleasant as commonly imagined according as the Person is A good Man is satisfied from himself Prov. 14. 14. As he walks out in the Fields to meditate he is as well pleased as others in great and jovial Company A Bird sings sweetly within Thoughts of innocence and the good he hath done and will continue in afford more Complacency then all the Variety of the World. The ungodly are not so Pâ— 1. 4. for what is the others Comfort is Torment to them They run to the Covert of Taverns and Alehouses and intermix with the Herd of fellow-Creatures if they may lose the Sense of their Disturber They keep still in some Company for there is no such security against their supposed Enemy These hate and declaim against Solitariness for thereby the remembrance of Sin and Guilt those accusings and fears would be stirred up which are so afflicting that if they will not obey and come to Repentance they cannot endure what prompts to this good end Yet such pass in the World for happy brisk Men and seem an unansweraâ—le Objection against the intended illustration That great shew of Mirtâ— and Jollity make half thinking People judge them to be in a Blessed condition It is to be known that all the Pleasures of sin are only outwards they are loud and visible when there is no inward and sensible rejoycing Or like a flash of Lightning they may transport for a moment when the mind is more Dark and Cloudy afterwards Take them amidst good Fellowship they are at first heavy till their Spirits are revived by strength of Liquor Hence drinking is so much in Fashion there is a deep Melancholy in its Followers by contracted Guilt that they cannot be really chearful till half Drunk and they cannot Laugh heartily till this hath caused them to stammer and bubble at the Mouth The most jovial Companion out of his Cups is no more then others 'T is an excuse in every Mans mouth they drink only for the sake of Company Each Person will say he had rather not and then it is a frivolous and false Pretence for the whole cannot be desirous of that whereof no part is But this is a Fig-leave to cover the shame of this sin for they will speak against it with their Tongue when they wish in their Heart to be pouring down knowing they cannot be Merry till they have had some quantity thereof Company is nothing worth if they have not some of the good Creature to exercise themselves withal The Lethargy of sin hath brought them into such a Damp that they are scarce â—nlivened till they find this stir in their Bodies The Clamours of Conscience are drowned with the noise of Company chaunting to the Viol and other kinds of Musick They comply with and approve of the ungodly Speeches and Actions of those they converse with They drink with the Drunkard Talk Lasciviously with the unclean Frame their Mouth to common Swearing by reason whereof the Land mourneth Jer. 23. 10. Their chief aim being recommend to themselves to Company they will rather please a parcel of dying Men then the ever-living God and will give Preference to Earth-Worms before him who is over all God blessed for ever They use Flattery invent Lies rather then spoil a pleasant Story take part with the Advocates for sin Either they do it themselves or silently hear the way of Truth evil spoken of thinking by this base obsequiousness to retain Friends Thus they treasure up wrath against the day of wrath Rom 2. 5. And though they seem never so Cheerful in prophane Talk Scoffers and walking after their own ungodly Lusts though they make a shew not to value his displeasure and threatnings Yet The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his day is coming Ps 37. 13. Which will be upon him whether he thinks of it or not When thou criest let thy Companies deliver thee but the wind shall carry them all away Isa 57. 13. Before the last great Evil day cometh he doth commonly fall into some dangerous and doubtful Sickness And then if he looks back upon his Life past and forward to the approaching Judgment he is possest with Horror and strange Amazement Like a wild Bull in a Net full of the fury of the Lord. Then he thinks Had I followed Goodness half so eagerly as my Lusts I should not now be in this miserable Condition What Fruit have 〈◊〉 of all past Jollities and sinful Pleasures What hath Lust profited me or what good hath all pleasant Cups done me All these are passed away like a shadow I see now the Vanity of these things and shall I again pursue them No I will not if God is pleased to grant that I may recover I resolve on an intire Reformation The Lord is not willing any should Perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. He did defer the Judgment upon Ahab for his temporary Humiliation so it may be observed in the general Order of his good Providence that he doth seldom cut off any in the midst of their Sins without having given them warning by outward affliction or some Sickness before which is not unto Death but the Glory of him in sparing Sinners so long and for the benefit of them if they did make a right use of it And commonly in their first Chastisements they have such thoughts which in some are lasting and sincere spending the Residue of their Life in Gods Service but with others they lye on the surface of the Heart and are taken away
Heart are It is no matter now for his business may be as well done at another time the longer it is staved of so much the better for then there will be the less time to serve him and if they can so much as to get Heaven it is soon enough Are these the secret Imaginations which some keep so close to themselves But they do not in the mean while throughly consider how all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 13. so he knoweth these innermost Thoughts all one as if they were wrote legibly upon the Forehead of those who conceive them How disingenuous is this And will he not so judge of it As if he must have those things put on him which they would not suffer from their Servants For would they like those who will do just enough to receive Wages but no more and less if they could Can it be reasonably expected God will reward those base and Mercenary People who do not esteem of him but only the good things he hath prepared Who would willingly receive his Gifts but have neither Love nor Reverence for the Giver If thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments said he who is to judge every Mans work What those are himself hath likewise told us they are two The first is Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy mind and all thy Strength How can he do this who hath such unworthy Thoughts Such an one unless he repents of the Evil will never be judged a Lover of God and then notwithstanding all his Policy he may come short of his Expectation God doth confound the Wisdom of the Wise and taketh them in their Craftiness Those which fancy and propose to themselves some new fine and â—asie way to Heaven of their own invention it is a thousand to one but they perish in their Projects for Men must not think any way to avoid the force and obligation of Gods Commandments Indeed they may choose whether they will observe them or not but then they must not choose to themselves the reward that is promised for keeping of them Neither let them imagine to draw up new Articles of Agreement besides that Covenant of Grace God hath been pleased to establish with Man for that is only of his own making and it is merciful enough it is not come to such Familiarity that he should accept what sinful Creatures would give him It is most just that God who made us without ourselves never asked our Advice whether we should be formed Vessels to Honour or Dishonour should also give us what Laws he please making his own Terms and Conditions upon which we are to receive the Happiness whereof himself is the only Giver We are not to frame any out of our own Brain and offer them unto him for seeing he hath created us to serve him shewed us how lent us Life for a time to do it We are not to seek out new Devices or to Parcel out this time as we see best for doing thereof This is here mentioned that those may beware who think it sufficient if they allot the least Portion nay the last moment for doing that wherefore the whole was given them These are the Statutes and Judgments which ye shall observe to do all the days ye live upon the Earth Deut. 12. 1. which is not taken away but rather more confirmed under the Gospel as appears from Luk. 1. 75. Who then would be saved We learn from the Prodigal Son the Publicans and Sinners the joy over them that repent those many gracious Texts concerning it that if we do go astray and come home again we shall be received to Grace and Favour But if Men from hence take occasion to spend their days in wickedness and their Life in disobedience if they turn the Grace of God into wantonness it is an horrible abuse and who thus pervert the ways of the most High may notwithstanding their vain purposes perish for ever If they go on in their wicked Course they may unawares be given over to a reprobate mind and all their Thoughts whereby they intended to be reconciled unto God at such a time come to nothing It is both unworthy and sinful to put him of from day to day and he who doth not Love to be mocked or despised may reward such after their deservings withdraw his Grace and let them go on in their own imaginations What if one should come into the Vineyard a little sooner then needs must Is not Heaven worth Labouring all the day for And can too much be done to avoid Hell Is it not better in a thing of so great moment to come more early and to wait for your Lord that when he cometh and knocketh you may open immediately Luke 12. 36. then to â—arry till the Critical time of his coming for you know not when this will be Who knoweth That certain day that is limited after so long a time Heb. 4. 7. Who can tell exactly how far and how long he may go in the way of wickedness and return The utmost bounds are not set down But this we are assured of the further we go the more way is to come back which will require so much the more Labour and Pains Hast thou any degree of the Love of God Wouldst thou not trifle with him Dost thou seriously expect to inherit his Promises and avoid his Threatnings Hast thou any regard to the eternal Welfare or Misery of thy own dear self Art thou so Wise as not to hazard when there is no need such an exceeding good set before thee and on the other hand so great an evil Break of presently thy Sins by Repentance Turn you Turn you and then Iniquity shall not be your ruin That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 23 24. Then the Fruits of the Spirit recited Gal. 5. 22 23. and other practical Duties are as agreeable to our Nature as before the Works of the Flesh were When men are transformed by the renewing of the mind they prove what is that Good that acceptable and perfect Will of God. It seems so even to their real Sense and Disposition they find more Comfort and Happiness in what is good then formerly they did in evil Be not doubtful or suspicious you are in no wise required to go softly all your years in the Bitterness of your Soul But you are invited forth to what Is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her and happy is every one that retaineth her Prov. 3. 18. As those can further assure you out of their own experience who sought her early Who being partakers of
the most mighty Lord of all Psal 2. 11. Psal 89. 6 7. things and a poor Worm so it is requisite to preserve a reverence for his awful Majesty and not to think or speak of him as an equal It is the constant stile of the Old Testament and also a Gospel precept Fear God Luke 12. 4. 1 Pet. 2. 7. We are likewise obliged to be somewhat fearful concerning our own Salvation Heb. 4. 1. Rom. 11. 20. Phil. 2. 12. 1 Pet. 1. 17. To do this is not Tormenting but stirs up carefulness and puts upon all things to secure it Happy is the Man that feareth always Prov. 28. 14. From which proceedeth a good Life thence a good Conscience and then is no fear none that is Slavish or hath Torment A third Passion is Joy which word denotes Happiness and is often Of Joy. enjoyned in Scripture for thou commandest all things which may do good O thou Lover of Souls Let the Righteous be glad let them rejoyce before the Lord yea let them exceedingly rejoyce Psal 68. 3. Behold my servants shall rejoyce Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart Isa 65. 13. Thou shalt rejoyce before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hand unto Deut. 12. 18. This joy is not taken away but increased under the Gospel The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads Isa 35. 10. This the Prophet who saw his coming foretold and so it was at the first appearing of Christ our Lord Luke 2. 10 11. He having now accomplished the work for which he was sent into the World there is sufficient matter of gladness Many righteous Men have desired to see these days The whole Gospel by which is established a better Covenant imports what the Apostle doth repeat in his exhortation as if it could never be pressed enough Rejoycing in the Lord always and again say rejoyce Phil. 4. 4. This is the Lord we have waited for we will be glad and rejoyce in his Salvation Isa 25. 9. Which is the happiness of Heaven the clear manifestation thereof to the World and the possibility we are put in to partake of it As then it will be a delight to remember how we came through this dark and troublesome Vale so whilst we are here we should lift up our hearts with expectation thereof Accordingly the good Men of old time did who had but the Glimmering whereof we have the fuller Light If the heir of a Kingdom or a good Estate is so transported with conceits and fancies of future good it cannot be thought absurd that who have the evidence and hope of such an exceeding eternal blessedness which will be one day revealed should be proportionably pleased with the foresight and John 16. 22. Gal. 3. 22. assurance thereof Accordingly that Christian who hath a real interest hath also a sensible rejoycing therein which doth exceed all the pleasures and imaginations here What results from gross and sensual things is not worthy to be compared with pure and spiritual yet God as a most Bountiful Master to his Servants hath given them many things here for recreation and delight He doth deny nothing which is good and convenient for us We are all to admire and comply with the Riches of his Mercy and Love who hath placed into our frame this affection of joy and hath provided things proper for it and hath done as much as lieth on his part to compleat the great end of our being happy How then came Sorrow in God made it not neither hath he pleasure in the grief of the living but it came in through Sin and Of Sorrow Transgression Gen. 3. 15 16. It was the effect of mans own disobedience and was justly inflicted on him as a Punishment so it is continued of every sin besides As such God ordained it but in the beginning when he made Male and Female he did not implant it into our nature we now come into the World crying for we fell and were corrupted with our fore-father Sin is interwoven into our very flesh and as the necessary consequent thereof sorrow also The Conception and Birth of our Lord was different from ours in him was no sin yet when he came into the World to make his Soul an offering for sin He was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity Isa 53. Mark 14. 34 of us all yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief so great that he poured out his Soul unto Death and bore the sins of many But now since he hath borne our grief and carried our Sorrows O astonishing goodness of the Son of God we are so far from sinking under them that these also I speak Mysteries tend to our Happiness Whilst we look on him whom we have Pierced and Mourn for him as one Mourneth for his only Son Zec. 12. 10 Isa 63. 9. 1 Thes 1. 10. even then considering how in his love and in his pity he hath redeemed us and hath delivered us from the wrath to come an holy joy will arise When we reflect that he who did drink of the Brook in the Way hath now lifted up his head above Angels Principalities and Powers Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him Phil. 2. 9. a Name which is above every Name Our Sorrow is turned into Joy for the exceeding and glorious condition Jesus whom our Soul Heb. 12. 1. loveth is in at this time If ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I Cant. 1. 6. said I go unto the Father This he said before his bitter Death John 14. 28. and Passion and now may seem to speak to all the World what he did once to the Daughters of Jerusalem Weep not for me but for your selves Are you troubled at those cruel sufferings I have undergone My Fathers indignation is past they are all over and the remembrance is not in the least grievous now I am crowned with Glory and Honour But weep for your selves who are in the Wilderness for the tribulation in the World and more especially weep for those sins which occasioned what I did suffer forsake them and come to me If ye pretend to be sorry for me and this doth not follow that is to cry out Hail King of the Jews and crucifie him afresh and put him to open Shame He hath instituted an holy Feast for the continual remembrance of his Passion the reasons thereof are to stir up our love towards him and the hatred of our own Sins God hath manifested his displeasure against them by the Death of his own beloved Son who came out of his Bosome yet when he took sin upon him had the full Vials of wrath poured forth as is evident by his Agony and bloody Sweat by the pains he endured on the Cross His sufferings were so exceeding that
none but he who travelled in the greatness of his strength who was mighty to save and therefore could endure The consideration of which should make us abhor our selves and repent in Dust and Ashes to mourn and be in bitterness for those sins which have slain the Prince of Life This is that sorrow required under the Gospel for Godly sorrow worketh repentance to Salvation not to be repented of for behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. If it were troublesome yet to obtain these good fruits none should refuse it but our Gracious God hath ordered for the encouragement of all some sweetness therein In the midst of such sorrow the heart is light and cheerful which seems absurd and foolish to carnal Men yet who have had sincere contrition know it to be true even whilst they were pouring forth penitential tears gladness was in the inward Man. Let not this pass off for strange for if in the midst of laughter the heart is sorrowful why may it not be also joyful in the midst of weeping Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and lofty place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. When Almighty God doth this who or what can depress and make it sorry There is light and cheerfulness however cloudy and dark it seems without the Sun doth always shine in its full Brightness but somewhat between doth hinder ouâ— perceiving thereof so it is of Gods Favour and the light of his Countenance Our infirmities and imperfection do take away the feeling thereof whereof we have the more as they go off and are endeavoured against God is not far from us but our iniquities separate from him he doth not so much hide his face but our sin and weakness like a curtain before the Soul intercepts the sight thereof None need to be discouraged or think the King of Kings will not regard him because of his small and mean condition there is another gracious promise Isa 66. 1. 2. Some do highly esteem a kind word or pleasant aspect from a great personage and shall so little a thing which doth no real good be so much accounted of when it proceeds from vain Man whose breath is in his Nostrils Is not his favour to be more valued who is Lord of Lords whose loving kindness is better then life Psal 63. 3. For it reaches further Certainly if we had faith we should not care to be rejected and despised of Men as long as we have the assurance of that no more then he who hath the Kings favour doth regard the esteem of a common Beggar God who is not a Man that he should lie hath promised it to godly sorrow and contrition herein are those sayings found true They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. Blessed are ye that weep for ye shall laugh Blessed are Luke 6. 21. they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. To Sinners and the merry Men of the World the Apostle gives Admonition and Exhortation Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Jam. 4. 9 10. But the sorrow of the World worketh Death 2 Cor. 7. 10. Therein is nothing but Vexation and therefore to be taken away Christianity hath shewed an excellent way of doing this which those of old time were ignorant of see Mat. 6. 25. to the end Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. Set not the heart and affection for the disquietude arises from that on the World. The more the mind is separated from Sensible things it conceives of Spiritual which is Life and Peace Rom. 8. 6. And to this it is quickened knowing that shortly we are to be quite taken from these and for ever to abide with the other and therefore is greater reason they should be the object of our thoughts and care then the little things that are only for a while present A lively faith sees into the other World and over looks this It gives a transitory glance but not sixes on perishing things and then they are no disturbance Experience assures we must be certainly deprived of them as we daily see others are a little before Our profession teacheth to draw off our desires before we are utterly taken from them to be in not of rather above the World just set the hand to those little concernments here but to have the affection still on things above and then the Man hath not much of Worldly Sorrow for his Portion though he hath some for as he partakes of the corruption so must he of the curse of his Fore-Father which also in a great measure is taken away by Christ yet he is comforted by Gods Grace that he is very well able to bear Many are the afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Psal 34. 19. And in the mean while giving patience and support he is not broken under them Heaviness in the heart of Man makes it stoop but staying upon his God he is not cast down Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee â—e shall never suffer the Righteous to be moved Psal 55. 22. Many are the places in Scripture which minister Consolation to them in affliction or trouble this precious Balm if applied will heal all their diseases and sores of whatsoever kind they be But many Sorrows shall be to the Wicked Psal 32. 10. For this belongs not unto them neither can they relish it When they are in pain or heaviness they must groan and be in like miserable condition with them which have no understanding their sence render them capable of sufferings but their Spirit being become brutish will not sustain them they may indeed palliate but can have nothing to get a real hope or deliverance ye shall lie down in sorrow Isa 50. 11. Would they be raised up again Then they must cease to do wickedly and hear the word of God which saith When thou art in Tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn unto the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice for the Lord thy God is a merciful God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee Deut. 4. 30 31. And if thou learnest obedience by sufferings thou mayest kiss the Rod and say it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Psal 119. 11. Anger is often abused to Sin and then is Torment but
may Of Angeâ— and â—eal become instrumental of obedience and productive of good When conversant about holy and divine things it is Zeal the nature whereof may be understood from Mark 3. 5. John 2. 17. Psal 69. 9. 119. 139. Acts 18. 25. Mat. 24. 12. Lev. 20. 4. It doth arise from the love of God causing a vexation of mind and indignation at those who dishonour him He is revealed in those several relations of King Father and Master so his Subjects Children and Servants are bound to stand up for his Glory and Honour when any thing is done that seems contrary thereto If this Duty were not mentioned or required in Scripture as it is Tit. 2. 13 14. Rev. 3. 15 16 17. and by many Examples yet manifest reason teacheth it Where is love Num. 25. 11. 13. of God there must be Zeal Which shakes off Negligence and Sluggisâ—ness of Spirit and raises a Joy in doing his Will this holy Fire warms Devotion and utterly banishes all carelessness and contempt in Spiritual Duties The Man is pleased and doth give thanks when he sees God glorified and although there is a grief to behold the contrary Psal 119. 158. Acts 17. 16. Ezek. 9. 4. that will be abundantly rewarded by the Most High he shall not suffer for what others do yet he cannot cease to pray for them to mourn in secret for their sins Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy brother and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 19. 17. Charity and Love obligeth to admonish him to come out of the paths leading unto Death A reasonable Creature cannot justly take this ill yet sometimes Hatred and Reproaches are returned for this best kind of Civility and Friendship however the one hath done his Duty and what the other will one day wish he had hearkened unto the Satisfaction of a good Conscience requites for all evil intreaty in the mean while If they Curse him who stands up for Gods cause he takes it patiently knowing the time will come when the Lord will arise and maintain it himself Those who are the off-scouring and filth of the World the contemptible ones of the Earth yet when God cometh with his Holy Angels the Scene will change and themselves will be the 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. same who think and would make these so now Indeed Zeal doth draw on Reproach Contempt and Evil Sayings and therefore some would not have it be used because of these inconveniences But surely they do not consider or not believe the Promises as particularly Luke 6. 22. Who have made Conscience to serve God in all Duty were in past Generations esteemed Fools simple and ignorant People despised defamed evil intreated under the Law They had tryal of cruel Mockings and Scourges Heb. 11. 36 37 38. Our Lord himself was despised and rejected of Men he was despised and we esteemed him not Isa 53. 3. The like also happened to the first Christians And now we are fallen into those perillous times Where they receive his Name but do not obey his Doctrine make so much outward Profession as to intitle them unto Having a form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof They do not only rest here but according to the Apostles Prophecy which this day is fulfilled They are despisers of those that are good 2 Tim. 3. 3 5. These say they have hopes of going to Heaven but what should they do in the Holy of Holies the pure and sanctified place above who cannot endure what hath a resemblance to it here It is alledged they do not condemn or speak against the good Actions of others but their way of doing they cannot approve of that forward indiscreet zeal it is their own Phrase and making so great Pretences in the Eye of the World for say they Men may be good Christians and yet not seem so outwardly If it were sufficient to be a Christian only within this would take away the Crown from the Martyrs and accuse them of Folly for according to this supposal they might have believed on Christ and have kept their Faith to themselves and so have escaped cruel Torments and Death But this they did not knowing what was written Mat. 10. 32 33. Rom. 10. 9 10. 'T is replyed the Case now is altered We do not live amongst Heathens but in a Christian Countrey it is taken for granted that every one believes Jesus to be the Son of God what need of so much Profession But are we not amongst Infidels in heart Prophane Ungodly Wicked half Christians Who in heart and mouth set themselves against God and Christ as the Gentile World did What mean those bitter Words and Railings Witty Jests and Drolls against those who are careful to serve God in sincerity but to discourage and make them ashamed of so doing This hath been the usual Practise of the World the Prophet doth arm those of his own and succeeding times Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness the People in whose heart is my Law this is a peculiar manner of expressing Gods Sincere and faithful Servants Fear ye not the reproach of men neither be ye afraid of their revilings Isa 51. 7. Our Lord Christ doth severely threaten his Followers if this device of the wicked should take effect upon them Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful Generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the Glory of the Father with the holy Angels Mark 8. 38. It is said Words indefinitely and therefore extends to his Doctrine and Commandments and so it is not called Jewish or Heathen but the same Character which belongs to our present Age. He is ashamed or afraid of his Religion that will not own it If he shrinks back and would not be thought Godly when he is so secretly this proceeds from Pride and sinful Modesty When the Name of God is blasphemed or taken in vain the way of truth evil spoken of Wickedness commended every one that feareth God is obliged to speak out in Reproof Vindication and Contradiction Zeal was typified by the Fire that shall ever burn upon the Altar it shall never go out Lev. 6. 13. Can that be and yet not seen Is any zealous for God hating Corruption wheâ—ever he sees it who yet doth not appear so to others The same Jesus who hath Commanded to take heed of the leaven of the Pharisâ—es which is Hypocrisie Luke 12. 1. that We do not our Alms before men to pray in secret Mat. 6. hath also said Ye are the Light of the World. A City that is set on an Hill cannot be hid Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good Works and Glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 14 16. If ye are a peculiar People you will be taken notice of if zealous of good Works they will be known If you do not
3 6 7 8. Thou mayst be destroyed for all thy hope for hope which is against the plain word of God is not hope for that which a Man hath no Promise what doth he hope for Neither let him perveâ—sly abuse Rom. 4. 18. as think to be saved with hoping Abraham for 't is evident Abraham had the Promise of God Gen. 15 5. for what he hoped for but had no natural Grounds for it Heb. 11. 11. but here it is only a false and fond Presumption directly contrary to Scripture And if he will for all trust to go to Heaven every common Beggar that lieth upon the Dunghil hath greater Reason to expect to climb up to the real Throne of Majesty and be King over this whole Nation for there is no impossibility in this as in the other It being impossible for God to lie Heb. 6. 18. When a wicked man dieth his Expectation shall perish and the hope of unjust men perisheth Prov. 11. 7. Neither doth it avail much in this Life it may stifle the afrighting thoughts of Damnation but yields no true Peace and Comfort It standing upon weak and rotten Grounds must not be searched for then it would totter and vex the Man that entertains it But if he would not be deceived in the greatest Concern of his own eternal Happiness he might know that if his hopes now will not bear a through Examination it is Suspicious they are false for true Gold will abide the Fire and then they will not pass for true in that day when the Lord shall try all things If himself should strictly consider he would spie out the deceit much more will the all-seeing God He will judge the secrets of Men by the Gospel the reserved and innermost thoughts which if here suffered to come out would defeat the vanity of all his hopes But this would be disquietude he must not cast them off for he is willing to save his Soul then suffer thy self to be put in mind how it may be done The error of most Men is they will exclaim horribly against despair which indeed is a sad thing and will take all imaginable heed of not falling into it but then they pass over the sure and middle way as if this were too near it and so fall upon another more dangerous Rock which they going on securely without noise proves destructive to thousands I mean presumption on Gods mercy where is no ground for it What doth it help the Ship tossed to and fro to cast out Anchor where is no bottom to fix on When the soul is troubled what real good doth it to let out hope if there is no promise to stay it self on Or if he thinks he can yet heed must be taken that it be not falsly applyed for that would be like foolish Pilots who fancy they see the Shore and make towards it when it is quicksands in which they coming near are Swallowed Alas just upon sinking they discover the deceit but if they had before they had avoided it The Sinner dropping into the bottomless Pit then is fully sensible of the falseness of all his former hopes but if he had been so wise in the day of Salvation to have trusted unto them no further then they were to be made true and stedfast out of the Word he had never came to this Then perhaps Satan working with all deceivableness in them that perish might beat off from examining themselves throughly representing such thoughts as Melancholy Fancies tending to despair which they must drive out of their mind But they should consider whether such do necessarily arise from Scripture for by that all must be judged at the last day And if we would judge our selves we should not be judged 1 Cor. 11. 31. We might know before hand how it will go with us if one hath a title to the Heavenly inheritance he must make it good out of this Statute Book which God hath made for his government over the World according to which is to be distribution of rewards and punishments from Deut. 29. 20 Rev. 3. 5. It appears that every common person hath a name in the Court-roll of Heaven and we are to arrive there upon the performance of such conditions in the mean while so plainly laid down that every one may know whether he doth them or not The Case being thus it is the wisest way now being the only time of doing them to read that Book to see whether all things are done that are written therein and if not to do them whilst we may correct what is amiss then to go on slightly and negligently not much minding it before hand least when the Book is opened Rev. 20. 12. Such and such things may be found wanâ—ing or mistaken and so the most inestimable good is lost for want of a full examination and knowledge This disappointment will be more tormenting and argue of folly because then he will have no opportunity to fill up and make right what was wanting or false â—e might have done it heretofore but then would not consider And therefore least any one that reads here should come into this wretched condition Behold I have told you before let him make no delay to search and try his wayes if they are streight when examined by the rule of Scripture there is no fear but if contrary they must be forth with amended by it Neither think this the way to despair which is the only Objection against sound Doctrine but to be converted and healed If one is in a damnable State the greater danger is in not being sensible thereof but none at all in knowing it for he may recover out as soon as he will let him repent and do so no more no longer trust unto those errors and mistakes If he is not yet come up to that fitness and Qualification for Heaven it is no hindrance but he may endeavour after it he may come up to such a degree of eminency and perfection before he die and at present may do somewhat towards it Gods Mercy and Pardon is to the greatest Sinners upon true Repentance there is no necessity for any one to continue in his sins and when he forsakes them the promises do presently belong to him see Isa 55. 7. Ezek. 18. 22. So again the threatnings are not absolute but only hang over the impenitent this word Despair is more often talked of then considered for in property of Speech it is opposed to Hope and is a distrust of Gods Mercy when there is good evidence in holy Writ that he may be partaker of the Promises But if one can challenge no property in them because of his wicked Life and Conversation or lives in one sin impenitently to which damnation is threatned this cannot be said to be despair because as long as he remains thus he hath no ground for hope no more then a Murderer or Capital Felon may be said to do so when he knowing the Law thinks
Hope and Patience but will be eternally and fully satisfied with the things signified under them But if they are not pointed this way They shall eat but not have enough Why so Because they have left off to take heed unto the Lord. Whoredom and Wine and new Wine take away the heart Hos 4. 10 11. and yet nothing but he can throughly satisfie it The World counts such like things the principal Happiness of Man. But I appeal to them who have all Plenty Whether all put together will amount to a â—atiâ—â—aâ—tion When you have eat and drunk of your Delicacies will they make you sincerely Merry Go to you that have abundance study all ways to delight your selves deny nothing your Lusts crave for pass away your time as pleasantly as you can spend your wealth but remember that for all these things God will bring you to Judgment Eccless 11. 9. In the very midst and throughout you will weary your selves to commit iniquity and at last will be more discontented then at the beginning by adding a long Train of Sin and Guilt Which will sit as an heavy Burthen or if dead therein and so not sensible of its weight this comes near to a reprobate Sense a Living to fill up the measure of iniquities Which is no other advantage then that of respite to â—â—nd no true Comfort in the World but spin out a wretched Life with foolish Toys and Diversions till Death consigns over where is no Stupefaction nor shadow of Refreshment Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way yet saidst thou not there is no Hope Isa 57. 10. Thou art tired in looking out and running after Satisfaction yet will go on still to expect some and not sit down perswaded there is none to be had in the things of this World but this must be done before Men cannot be led up to another Happiness and seeing they cannot have it here it is reasonable to seek diligently somewhere else for it this Treasure is worth Ransacking every corner of the Earth for yet not to be had but by lifting up above it Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth Serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Psal 2. 10 11. You must manifest your obedience and subjection unto him For the Lord your God is God of Gods and Lord of Lords a Great God Mighty and Terrible which regardeth not Persons nor taketh reward Deut. 10. 17. Heâ—r ye the word of the Lord O Kings of Judah and Inhabitants of Jerusalem Jer. 19. 3. So you are equally obliged to know his Law and Will as the meanest of your Subjects And upon refusal thereof are to Answer before him The Officer that is to hale before the Judge enters into Palaces as common Windows They are to behave themselves with Submission and Obedience in the mean while unto the Great Lord over all to make their Reconciliation with him This kind of Discourse is slighted and pished at by Great Men but it is Gods word and truth and he resents their Contempt as done to himself And because these pretend to put it off out of Courage and Boldness make a shew to Laugh at the other World yet if they do not really fear it let them take a Prospect of it in a dead Letter for if they cannot do this it is by Reason of the horrible dread within but if they would they might be secured from the Danger thereof That is only to the Rebellious and Stubborn which any one may choose to be But if they continue so let their Persons be never so great There is One mightier then they as is manifested by the first Act we see and more we read of He that was surrounded with so many Attendants and Servants shall descend alone into the Pit and his Soul who Ezek. 32. 25. before made the Nations tremble shall leap out frighted in a perplexed Condition Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy Coming It stirreth up the dead for thee even all the chief Ones of the Earth it hath raised up from their Thrones all the Kings of the Nations all they shalt speak and say unto thee Art thou also become weak as we Art thou become like unto us Isa 14. 9 10 11. There is no more Priviledge for Kings then others The Lord on thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath Psal 110. 5. And the Kings of the Earth hid themselves in the Dens and Rocks of the Mountains and said to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us And hide us from the Face of him that siteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for â—he great day of his Wrath is come and who shall be able to abide it Rev. 6. 15 16 17. The Lord of the ends of the Earth will â—eâ—ch them forth of their lurking Holes Who had Legions and Armies to fight for them must appear before his Judgment Seat. â—None of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransom for him for the Redemption of their Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever Psal 49. 7 8. Who was a Judge among the People must now be Judged himself Who ere-while Commanded and gave Laws at his Pleasure is now brought into Subjection and himself tryed by the Law of the Most High. For there is no respect of Persons with God for as many as have sinned without Law shall perish without Law and as many as have sinned in the Law shall be judged by the Law Rom. 2. 11 12. What is now Acting in the World will be over and when every one of us one after another have done our parts we must lay aside all our Ornaments in the Wardrobe of the Grave If we have done any good Works these will follow us but if ill Guilt sticks close one of these two is all we shall carry out of this World. None will have advantage over another but it shall be done to all according to their deservings At that time the things with which we are now so affected will be all passed away and their remembrance as faint as a Night Vision It will not be the least Comfort for them to call to mind who have lived in Pleasure on the Earth and been Wanton and have nourished their hearts as in the day of slaughter But who shall have the Testimony of their Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity they had their Conversation in the World will find more rejoycing then to have had the Dominion over mighty Kingdoms If he that was a great Emperour did not behave himself rightly towards God whilst he was in this place of Tryal his Condition will be worse then that of a Scullion by reflecting from what a pitch of worldly Prospeirty and Honour be is fallen How will he endure to see himself become abject and base for ever who before was had in such reverence that
for that also was once to come and we see it hath already been The day of death with us living is to come and though it be so none can be foolish to deny but that will as certainly be as was the day of our Birth All this great business which is cryed up to be so much at a distance is only till then for albeit the perfect consummation of bliss and misery will be after the general Judgment and how it shall be with us immediately after Death there is no plain Revelation yet from John 9. 4. Heb. 9. 27. and alike places it appears As the Tree falls so it lies As Death leaves one so Judgment finds him What therefore doth it signifie if the General Day be afar off when the Day of our particular Death may be next Week to Morrow this very Night God may require our Soul The body remains insensible in the Sleeping-House of the Grave yet it will be awaked from thence by the Trump of the Arch-Angel A Man would not go to sleep very securely if he knew before hand he Mat. 25. 6. should be rouzed by his House burning about his ears and of this we are assured that after our earthly Tabernacle is laid down it riseth up no more till the day of the Lord comes as a Thief in the Night 1 Thes 5. 2. In the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up If we would be safe in that great day we must before we go hence consider and do well that we may be worthy to escape and stand the only strength is innocence Seeing then these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved 2 Pet 3. 10 11 14. We daily approach nearer to morrow then to day and thus continually make towards it Whether we Eat or Drink Sleep or Play our time passeth and whether we think of it or not we are always going to that state in which time shall be no more How soon we may be there we know not but most certainly we shall be there at last Take ye heed Watch and Pray for ye know not when the time is Mark 13. 33. Who will not obey this Commandment but be unmindful go to sleep and take their rest yet their Damnation slumbereth not and if they put the evil day far from them yet still their condemnation lingereth not and that will come do what they can In the days of Sodom they did Marry and were given in Marriage did not at all consider the things which should come upon them nevertheless the Lord rained down Fire and Brimstone What are now become of all those in the Generation with Amos who would put the evil day far from them Yet it is long since come and they could not stave it off Those of the same mind in the time of our Amos 6. Fathers are all gone and their carelesness could not preserve them from the Pit of Destruction They thought the very like what some do now the things of another World were at a great distance and they need not mind them yet they fell in unawares We can no more think their misery less then who wilfully shut their Eyes and drop into a bottomless Gulph whereas if they had kept them open they might have seen and passed by it Like the evil Servant who said in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming Mat. 24. 48. They had time enough and to spare on the Earth therefore they would smite and oppress their Neighbours eat and drink with the drunken But the Lord came in a day when they looked not for him and they are reserved unto his just Judgment if they might rise from the dead again and have another day of grace and for bearance they would be other kind of Men They would take heed and not be surprized on a sudden But the decrees of Almighty God like himself are unchangeable they were told of this before and they might have accepted the good counsel of the Lord Jesus and therefore he is Righteous in his dealings towards Men. Who dyed in their sins have no more place for repentance for he gave them a space to repent and they repented not Rev. 2. 21. But the living may as we are at this day yet not better then our Fathers we must shortly dye in like manner and are to stand or fall to our own Master We shall see another representation of things then is now before us one which openeth into the eternal Countrys either new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. Or a Land of Darkness of the shadow of Death a place of Dragons and Scorpions the inhabitation of Sin and Misery Yet a little while and we shall be removed out of this place and then we shall find that the things here spoken of though they may at present seem as idle tales Luke 24. 11. will be real and no fictions Whosoever believeth that God is true and that those things are so which he hath spoken by his holy Prophets Son and Apostles cannot otherwise then be convinced of the certainty of them even now If so nothing can be more effectual to perswade Men futurity will be no more an argument against them then now it is against Mens going a Voyage to a Foreign Country where it is several Months before they can reap any profit The shortness of the time before at least by Death the infallibility of that the exceeding greatness of the concern should take away all other disadvantages If we had but faith as a grain of Mustard-seed we should remove Mountains which now hinder us to behold the Land that is very far off Isa 33. 17. And for all the distance it would more affect us because of its exceeding pleasantness then that our feet now tread on if it doth not it cometh to pass because of unbelief Nevertheless if we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. He hath provided a rest for his people and to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not Heb. 3. 18. They shall not only be deprived of that but shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21. 8. Which they may as soon avoid by saying they do not believe any such thing as now they may a temporal evil by fancying strongly it shall not come upon them If they could make themselves immortal by having a lively Faith that they shall â—ot die or if they were fast bound to a Stake and a pile of Faggoâ—s kindled close round about and they could be preserved from
is to come It is so irksome that they cannot consider their Pride of Glory Isa 23. 9. passeth away and they make daily approaches to receive a recompence for their evil Deeds One that is continually going to the place of Execution can take but little Pleasure though he hath some Miles to it and is to pass by Meadows Gardens Woods and the most delightful Countrey that ever the Eye saw and though he is feasted with all imaginable Rarities upon the Road hath Variety of Wine and Women and Musick unless he doth quite stupifie and make himself unmindful of his Journeys end If he doth so yet his Misery is never the less or unavoidable but increased by the sad and dismal Change much worse is their Condition who spend their days in Mirth and in a moment go down to the Grave What a motive is here to turn quickly aside out of this and get into the other way To use all means for getting an Hope true and firm sure and stedfast then is Comfort and Rejoycing the nearer one comes to the end thereof The longer one walks in the path that leads to Heaven he is better satisfied for it is more smooth and plain and there are fewer steps till arrived at the Blessed Countrey This is my Rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 132. 14. He is glad at every Stage for he is advanced yet further in the way He can sup Cheerfully and refresh himself with the good things of the Inn but he must rise up early and away He will use them so far as to renew his Strength for Travel but if he should gorge himself then he would not be fit to go He is journeying to receive for himself a Kingdom but it is not one of this Earth nor bringing it down here no more then he can keep that which he hath already but is obliged against this shall fail to secure unto himself that which endureth unto all Ages That Kingdom which cannot be moved Heb. 11. 28. He must use Diligence and Earnestness for From the days of John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take by force Mat. 11. 11 12. So that a few and careless Endeavours will not serve the turn there must be exercised the whole Strength of a Man. Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 7. 21. Here again is to observed that the performance of outward Acts of Devotion will not bring him thither unless he doth also the Will of God which is expresly revealed and applied to him to keep all the Words of this Law and these Statutes to do them Deut. 17. 19. Oh but it may be said that is impossible Let him instance in one Commandment that is so and if each of them is possible to be kept then the whole is likewise by united Care and Diligence But it is very hard Nothing is so to the Grace of God and if it be to Flesh and Blood the Command is Strive to enter into the Streight Gate Luke 13. 24. The word in the Greek Language imports as much as putting forth the utmost strength which certainly may be done None obtains the corruptible Crown without they run for it so neither the incorruptible Crown without Pains We do not Pity those which endure great Hardships as long as thereby they Aâ—chieve mighty Conquests and subdue whole Countries this is thought to make amends for all the trouble they have been at and why should we think so hardly of Heaven if we must Labour before we come there Is noâ— that as much worth as some small spot of Ground here We see that is had so in the way thither is somewhat had which is not seen but really perceived viz. Peace and Contentment of Soul. Those who have fought many pitch Battels undergone tedious Marches Who seemed to be of a Gentile Nature have waded through a Sea of Blood Who have been bred up to Softness and Delicacy have endured the heat by Day and frost by Night to obtain that end All the Labour and striving in the World to better their present Condition is if that would give more quiet of mind They gâ—udge at no Pain for the fancied means towards it which were wrong and false as might have been known before because those who sit at the very top of Worldly prosperous Condition do most want it You are once more shewed the alone true Happiness do ye pause And are ye discouraged at it This doth not become men of great and excellent Spirits I am sure a little Hardship is no hindrance in in all other Actions of Life Why should it be in this great and real Concern for a false and little shew whereof they are undertaken The difficulty should not so much frighten as the necessity press forward for who misses hereof is undone for ever Eternal Salvation is a thing which cannot be made too sure of In great Enterprizes Men look every way and use all manner of Circumspection that they may succeed What are they for Is not Happiness more then all that can be named Can thought and care be needless as to this when so much is had about the less material things And if a man strive for Masteries yet is he not Crowned except he strive lawfully 2 Tim. 2. 5. All Religion is to the intent that we may please God. He who is made by him chief Officer in the Armies of the Earth must submit upon Pain of his dispeasure unto the Orders of the Great Governor of the World. And what are they He shall read in the Book of the Law all the days of his Life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of his Law and these Statutes to do them Deut. 17. 11. Which it is impossible he should unless he know them And if he follows after Christ he will not walk in darkness He is the way the Truth and the Life Which John 14. 6. the King himself is to come unto and walk in if he would Live for ever CHAP. IV. Of the NOBILITY and GENTRY An Exhortation for them to serve God a Caution against Mistakes in matters of Religion the Vnreasonableness of some particular Reproaches Of Humility and the Way to Greatness The Description of a Good Man. I Will get me unto the great Men and will speak unto them Jer. 5. 5. Even here somewhat may be Collected out of the written word of God for their use and benefit Amongst his chosen People the Israelites there is frequent mention made of Princes Nobles Great Men and Rulers It is necessary for the support and exercise of Government that there should â—e subordinate Ministers The King having large Territories and Dominion cannot Rule them all immediately by himself but must constitute Judges and Officers throughout his Countrey
terrible Characters then suffer the Truth and Signification of them If diligent care be not used to prevent this it will take off from the Pleasure of your Recreations and Pastimes as they are called Which are said to be made use of to spend the time as if that did not pass away fast enough of it self And it may seem strange that some should so much endeavour to throw that away when for ought they know unless they repent and bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance this is the only time of Comfort they will ever have and therefore they should make much of it that it may appear long but not contrariwise Which is an intimation that their Life which they would have others think so Happy yet themselves do not find it for they that count it Pleasure to riot in the day time 2 Pet. 2. 13. yet are more Solicitous to make it seem short then poor Day-labourers At night they fall to the Works of Darkness spend the greater part in Chambering and Wantonness When it is time to awake out of sleep then they go to it and reverse Gods Ordinance of the night for Rest By not observing the words of his Law the threatning is fulfilled now upon Earth In the Morning thou shalt say Would God it were even and at even thou shalt say Would God it were Morning for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear Deut. 28 67. As is discovered by them who cannot be one minute without Company who in time of Health must have wax Candles burning all Night In the day they make it their Business to stifle it more And yet for all they would have time pass away Which is a manifest token of the Misery of their present Condition for none can desire that unless it be out of Expectation of a future and greater Blessedness which they have no Prospect of being only for the present and what is before them If all this should at length end in a sad Eternity there is no Stupefaction nor making the least part thereof to pass away and it will be ten thousand times more Vexing then that now in the days of their Flesh What can be said too much to recover People out of this Condition What kind of Expressions shall be made use of to prevent others sliding in but the least towards it To you High and Rich let this warning be given Who are so desirous after it have a care of mis-placing or seeking in a wrong way that Happiness which is to be found in God only and in the way he hath shewed for there it is to be had and no where else For my People have Committed two Evils They have forsaken me the Fountain of living Waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no Water Jer. 2. 13. Who resort to these will be still disappointed of satisfying their Thirst Our gracious God in that he would the more effectually draw us unto himself hath so provided that we cannot be otherwise Happy but by coming unto him and we must be necessarily miserable if we do not Man is a proud Worm he will not stand beholden no not to God for Happiness though he hath brought him into Being and furnished him with those means by which he will try to attain it himself and his own way in opposition to that prescribed unto him 'T is Riches and Honour which lift him up to this height he thinks them his own and they can make him Happy and what need he then be indebted to any For he is apt to say in his heart My power and the might of my hand hath got me this Wealth or Deut. 18. 17 18. else mine Ancestors have done it for me whereas he should remember the Lord his God for it is he that giveth thee Power to get Wealth It is he which brought thee into this World by means of such Parents if it had been the good Pleasure of his Will â—e might have caused thee even thee to have been a Beggars Off spring whom now he hath made the Son of Nobles Thou shouldst rather be the more thankful and obedient for his Goodness and not thence take occasion to be stubborn or lift up thy self against him O Generation see ye the word of the Lord Have I been a wilderness unto Israel A Land of darkness Wherefore say my People We are Lords we will no more come unto thee Jer. 2. 31. He doth as it were expostulate whether such should be the return for his Love and Kindness Stop a little and think seriously It pleaseth God now to call you by his Grace Be sure not to confer with Flesh and Blood but examine the things which have and are to be delivered in the Spirit of your Minds Have nothing to do with carnal Reason heaâ—ken not to the insinuations of lust or bewitchings of concupiscence Put away all things which may hinder As now born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. It will do you no harm Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13 14. What pleasure doth at this instant remain of all past Jollities and if none doth now in time of health and enjoyment much less will they comfort upon a Death-bed They are fading and unsatisfying Vanities delight only a very little for the present but not yield a true contentment Wherefore leave them before they leave you if you forsake them you will avoid all their dreadful consequents but if you hold fast to them they will at length forsake you as to their refreshing Nature for this lasts not in Sickness or declining Age but the guilt they leave behind will stick close and press you down to the lowermost Hell. You must of necessity part you see what difference there is if they or you first drop away or you come out from among them In the Name of God cast them of forthwith do not cry out with the Sluggard yet a little Sleep a little Slumber a little folding of the hands to Sleep let me lye a little longer in my sins and then I will rise Thou dost not surely consider who it is that calls thee Awake thou that sleepest and Christ will give thee life Your hands have been defiled with sin and filthiness Wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do evil learn to do well Come now let us reason together saith the Lord though your sins be as Scarlet they shall be white as Snow though they be red like Criâ—son they shall be as Wool. Behold what manner of Isa 1. 16 17 18. Love and Condescention is here The Mighty God proposes to reason with those whom he could as
easily cut in pieces as make this offer what cause can be assigned for such unparalled goodness but his own gracious nature which delighteth in Mercy He doth make the first proposals of Reconciliation between himself and his stout Creature What a wonderful thing is this that the humility of God who is so Glorious in Majesty fearful in Praises and doing wonders should exceed that of Man the Work of his hands a small contemptible and impotent being And yet how strange would it be let the Heavens and Earth be astonished if he who is less then nothing should withstand and despise such goodness Call to mind further he doth not this because he cannot do otherwise for he hath severity in store as he will manifest upon thy self if thou contemnest his goodness it cannot be unless thou art guilty of the most horrible incivility that ever was thou shouldst refuse to hearken when he calls thee Thou mayest put off thy inferiours to a more convenient season and whom thou dost not much care for but God is the excellent one in all the World who daily poureth his benefits on thee hath given all thou hast who holdeth thy Soul in life Is he not worthy to have a present answer To be opened unto immediately Luke 12. 36. Who is Lord of Heaven and Earth to whom the greatest Monarch is a Grashopper If you do not hearken to this but slight and despise he hath his threatnings which those shall feel who do not mind them as Psal 29. Job 34. 20 24. Rev. 6. 15 18 17. Amos 2. 14. Isa 10. 3. Rom. 2. 9 11 12. Mat. 13. 42. You are Men and not God you are Flesh and not Spirit and your Flesh is not the Flesh of Brass nor your Bones Iron They must necessarily turn into the Dust of the Earth And you that cannot now bear the least indignity offered to your person how will you endure to rise up to everlasting shame and contempt Dan. 12. 2. Or to drop into Misery in all things just contrary to that soâ—tness and delicacies here An heedless unbelieving thought will not secure Men as to this for what is prepared cannot be destroyed by an imagination only As Abraham said to Dives the great gulph is fixed besides the inference he there makes Luke 16. 26. This also follows so that those who are not yet in but going the direct way to it can neither pass it by nor after being plunged in get out again by an Opinion or Wish There are many pretty sayings about this but in the mean while whom shall we believe The Wisdom and Truth of God or the Foolishness and Falshood of Men Certainly the safer way is for every one to use diligent care and circumspection that he come not there which he is now reminded of Gods Word is as true as his Existence and seeing he hath said by his Son the Worm shall not die and the fire shall not be quenched to deny it would be to make God a Liar or the Lord Jesus an Impostor which none either can as to defeat what he hath said or dare to do Let me ask the great Men Do ye believe these things I know ye are Christians and ye do believe them Why then will you not be moved to flee from the wrath to come If you are impeached of High Treason against your Sovereign you will use all endeavours not to be found guilty and if you are you will use no means unattempted to procure a Pardon We are all by Nature the Children of Wrath and consequently liable unto it and have added further Rebellions against the Majesty on High. Is he not as dreadful who liveth for ever to take vengeance as Princes are whose breath goeth forth and their thoughts perish Do ye think ye ought not as much stand in aw of the Great Mighty and Terrible God for so he is still to them that obey not the Gospel as of meer Man Is he not as worthy to be sought after Ye have offended against him and will ye stand out still Is it meet he should come unto you and force a Pardon upon you whether you will or not Indeed he waits to be gracious but it is to those who come unto him and if you will not to speak in the gentile dialect you may choose and be damned Our selves would take it ill if we should at great cost or pains get a Pardon for a Servant and he out of peevish pride or negligence would refuse it Now this Christ hath done he hath purchased you with his own Blood but you must sue it our your selves or go without it A condemned Criminal here is dealt bountifully withal if his life be spared only but the goodness of God endureth yet daily and infinitely exceeds that of Creatures He doth pardon and if ye continue in his goodness otherwise ye shall be cut off rewardeth you This shall be the Covenant which I will make with the House of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People this is the first part of it as well as the other for I will forgive their iniquity and their sin will remember no more Jer. 31. 33 34. This extends both to the least and greatest for they are expressed He promises to be our God which imports as much as is evident from the whole tenour of the Gospel what is said 1 Thes 4. 17. We shall be ever with the Lord Which should be desirable to those who think it a priviledge to stand in the presence of the King much more is it before the great King of all the Earth In thy presence is fullness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Psal 16. 11. You that affect nothing but great Company do likewise seek to be Equal unto the Angels Luke 20. 36. The least of whom doth exceed the greatest of Men. Who are now in the first rank Why will you not in a Godly sort be ambitious of being so in the first born of Heaven and endeavour after a degree of Glory answerable to that of greatness ye have here In the Name of God try to keep your first Station that you may never have the least cause to remember from whence you are fallen Never sink below your selves strive to attain the higher perfections but above all take heed of coming short of the lowest for it is better to be least in the Kingdom of God then not to be there at all Little Flock it is my Fathers Will to give you a Kingdom Luke 12. 32. And why should it not be yours to accept of it Who deem your selves worthy of all honour I hope will not judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life for all your abundance you would receive a great Estate if any of your Friends and Relations would bequeath it unto you And will you not
of all Hearts are to be judged by the Gospel of Jesus Who will put his own Interpretation on his own Laws and we are to receive from his month the Sentence of Life or Condemnation Let none therefore be the more Confident or presume to go on in his Course because one whom he hath chosen for a guide tells him he is right enough and he is willing to believe him for such can know no otherwise then by the Gospel and it is agreed on all hands that those Texts which are given to make wise unto Salvation are so plain and easie to be understood that they need no Interpretation at all and it cannot be that any who come in sincerity to be informed should be deceived in them But thus it is Men are strangely given to their own Lusts they cannot endure to resist the Allurement of sensual Pleasures and are not willing to bring down their haughty minds and yet would partake of the Promises of the Gospel and avoid its Threatnings so there must be an expedient found out to do all this How ready are they to hearken unto and embrace every proposal made to this end Either by their own deceitful Hearts or by him who works with all deceivableness in them that Perish Or some others have been found who instead of shewing People Mic. 3. 5 8. their Transgression and the House of Jacob their sins have soothed them up and concealed Who have strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him Life Ezek. 13. 22. Who being willing to please their great Benefactors do according as they would have Speak smooth things and Prophesie deceits Isa 30. 10. Who know no sooner way to oblige them then by dictating Doctrines sutable to their ungodly Lusts and Inclinations that they may live the Life of the wicked and die the Death of the righteous follow all iniquity here and receive the Crown for Well-doing hereafter And this is done by divulging some pleasing but wrong and mis-applyed Notions of Gods wonderful Mercy of Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and relying wholly on him for Salvation of a formal daily Repentance which is well enough if more sincere and perfect on the Death-bed the Doctrine of partial Obedience of Desires and Resolutions which are for the most part Mockery or Non-sense the mistakes of Sins of infirmity for the works of the Flesh and unrighteousness come under these of distinguishing between the Counsels and Precepts of the Gospel stretching it further then they have Warrant from 1 Cor. 7. 25. What they have a mind to follow those are the Commands and what they have not is of the other sort and then they sin not in neglecting it And such like Out of which may be patched up a fine sort of Divinity to please the Great Ones here by giving them Encouragement that after they have gratified to the utmost all their wicked Lusts and bid defiance to the Almighty in their Life-time yet they can appease him again slightly and when they will But certainly this is quite to leave the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ to go on to imperfection not laying again but utterly over-throwing the Foundation of Repentance from dead Works and of Faith towards God which if such as pleases him must consist in Obedience as well as to believe that he is But one would think some did not so much or what is worse Think that the God-head was like unto Gold or Silver or stone graven by Art and Mans device Acts 17. 29. for they would stamp their own Impressions and more derogate from his Glory and despise him in their own imaginations then they did Rom. 1. 23. for these would make God such an one as they would have him render him a Lyar alter and change his very Nature beseech him to determine his everlasting Gospel rather then he shall not save them Or else how can they ever dream of thrusting themselves into his Holy City above any other way then by which God hath appointed nay going contrary to what he hath Chalkt out Our Saviour Jesus Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and puriâ—ie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2. 14. Now these defeat the very end of his Coming for according to their supposal Men may still live in all iniquity and instead of being zealous for good Works they need do none at all but cast themselves intirely on Christs satisfaction and Merits The foregoing Verse is The grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly and righteously and Godly in this present World but according to the daubing of some if we do the contrary all our Life-long and we do that is impossible but say or wish as much before the last Gasp of Breath is gone we may lay hold of it But hold there Salvation is not Mens to give they cannot so much as redeem their own Souls much less barter with Almighty God for others We are to have the Reward from his hands only and he hath said already on what terms he will give it Christ became the Author of eternal Salvation unto all that obey him Heb. 5. 9. and to none else The Priests may not prescribe unto him who is a God of infinite Sovereignty and Power Laws of their own Head nor parcel out the Objects of his Bounty they may never partake of it themselves much less be so impudent as to set it out for others Themselve◠〈…〉 e to stand among the number of the Criminals for since they have corrupted the Word of God 2 Cor. 2. 17. Instead of warning the Wicked from his way such have been occasion why he sinned yet more they shall receive greater Condemnation Nevertheless those shall not escape who being led away with their own lusts and enticed do gladly receive their plausible Opinions and Sayings but shall perish for all Mat. 15. 14. Ezek. 33. 8. Isa 9. 16. Though the Serpent Gen. 3. beguiled the Woman and the Woman beguiled the Man yet the curse was pronunced on all And it will be no excuse in the last day Lord the Teachers who came in thy name told us we might do such things and live for Christ had foretold that false ones should arise and commanded to take heed least any Man deceive you He left his Word behind to try the Doctrines whether they be of Men or no by which he will judge the World and not by this or that Doctors Opinion Let others now put what meaning they will upon the commands of Christ yet if he should interpret them otherwise every one knoweth whose must be taken and by which we are to abide His judgment and exposition will be according to Righteousness and Truth whatever others make now If they turn the Word up Isa 24. 5. and down to make
must out of his own experience and knowledge assent to what the Apostle saith The whole World lieth in Wickedness 1 John. 5. 19. If thou hast no mind to be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31. Do not comply with the sinful customs thereof Remember what thou didst promise unto God in thy Baptism that thou wouldst renounce the vain Pomp and Glory of the World with all covetous desires of the same and the carnal desires of the flesh so that thou wouldst not follow or be led by them This thou didst then promise by thy Sureties which promise when thou camest to Age thy self wert bound to perform and thou didst take it immediately upon thy self either at Confirmation receiving the Sacrament or full purpose of mind or if thoâ— hast not how canst thou expect the benefits thereof How art thou in the Christian Church If thou hast not taken it upon thee yet God will judge thee and if thou hast it is a fearful thing to be a Lyar unto God. If thou thinkest this a thing of Form the custom of the Country then thou art a Christian only in Name and for all that to have thy Portion with Hypocrites and Unbelievers But thou hast a distinction to elude this and all which hath been hitherto spoken viz. The Pomp and Glory of the World there meant and those places in the New Testament afore-cited refer only to the Idolatrous customs of the Gentiles at that time and signifie nothing to those of the present Age. This is apparently false for in the generality of those Texts there is no mention made of Idolatrous Customs but of Lust excess of Wine excess of Riot Revellings Vanity of Mind they are somewhat intended but not only A full Answer is given to all this from Acts 2. 39. The promise is unto you and your Children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call And seeing Christ is to have a Church for all Generations to come even to the end of the World undoubtedly he designed the New Testament which is Sealed with his own Blood and become of force by his Death as a means for those to believe on him and as a Law to govern their Manners not only for those which saw and heard him in the Flesh but for their Children and Childrens Children even to all posterity for evermore It is further decreed that he shall judge the World by the Gospel Now if he should as most certainly he will understand them according to the plain and common sence of the same Words What then will become of those who trust unto this Objection Which if admitted true would strike at the Root of all Religion and by further degrees banish it quite out of the World. But if here Men should shake the fear of God from their minds by cunning Evasions excuse themselves from the Obligation of his Commandments yet they shall never escape that vengeance which now dogs them at the heels and will be sure to seize on them when out of this life all their Sophistry will signifie nothing at all when they come to appear before his Judgment-Seat Though at present they are so pleased if by a nice distinction they can save themselves from the obedience of such precepts yet when he discovers the deceit they intended to put on him and maketh them of none effect How must they be confounded before Angels and Men at the last and terrible day Indeed if we were to be judged by those of like infirmities with our selves who know nothing of our thoughts then there might be some hopes by crafty excuses and subterfuges to palliate our case before them but Seeing God hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Acts 17. 31. Who is the Power of God and Wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1 24. Who will have all the Churches know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts Rev. 2. 23. How then can they expect by some foolish fancie to out-wit him or that their close intents shall not be made known in that day when Christ Jesus shall judge the secrets of Men according to the Gospel And before him shall be gathered all Nations and he shall separate them one from another as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats Mat. 25. 32. And then several who think themselves sure enough at present will be deceived in their Expectation Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name cast out Devils And in thy Name done many wonderful Works and then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7. 22 23. Every one is sensible there is no little Torment in a Worldly disappointment but in a thing of so great Moment it must be inexpressible anguish The indignation will be so great that they would utterly destroy themselves if possible rather then see themselves rejected by God and that happiness with him and to go along with the accursed crew into everlasting Misery No words can throughly set forth that discontent and raging those wretched Souls must groan under and therefore least any one who casts his eye upon these lines should come amongst their number to prevent this danger let him look upon the verse foregoing Not every one that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 7. 21. This place which is easy to be understood should take away their confidence who rest only in a formal course of Devotion for here we are told it is not that but doing his Will which is revealed in Scripture that must bring us to Heaven What can be more plain and which if throughly confidered of would take away all those destructive mistakes we have been labouring all this while to remove Hath any one a mind to go to Heaven or escape Hell He need not ascend up thither in curious Speculations or study whither it be possible to climb up and wrack his brains which way to accomplish it so neither need he descend into the lower most parts of the Earth to search where the place of Torment is that he may avoid it But the Word is nigh thee which shews the way to the one or the other They are both set before thee Choose whether you will have Never mind what others do Every one is to bear his own burthen and to give account of himself before God What they do what is that to thee Look thou to thy self thou art more sensible of thine own Happiness or Misery then all the World besides it were better for thee that thou wert Happy and all Mankind besides Miserable then that thou wert Miserable and all the rest Happy Whosoever shall come to dwell with everlasting Burnings it will be but
the chief Rulers believed on Christ but would not confess him for they loved the praise of Men more then the praise of God John 12. 42 43. And even now several Persons of note and quality have a good liking to his Doctrine and Commandments and would live more exactly according to them if it were not for lessening their Reputation and Esteem in the World. But let these consider Mark 8. 34 35 36 37 38. He that loveth Father or Mother more then me is not worthy of me Mat. 10. 37. So neither can he be thought worthy of him who loves his own Honour more then him How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another John 5. 44. And though Honour is such a precious thing through the innate Pride of our Hearts that we can more easily part with dear Life it self yet he requires both when thereby he is to be glorified and obeyed Here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints Here is the difficulty of a Christian to forsake beloved Lusts which are as dear as his right Eye to part with Honour which is more precious then his own Hearts-blood when our Lord requires it This makes it hard for a rich Man to be saved A threefold Temptation doth beset him from the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life Though all are very apt to seduce him from the obedience and love of God yet the last to some is of greater force then the rest for there be which can contemn their abundance use but not trust in it Who being of a knowing Temper can forsake Pleasures but Honour and Reputation they cannot at least will not give up They do all things to advance it whether sinful or not is no Consideration or no hindrance They refrain from doing that which the Law of God and the dictate of their own minds prompt unto if they once think they shall lose somewhat of their Esteem To make a sincere and honest Profession of Godliness is not Fashionable in this crooked and perverse Generation and therefore though they may well approve of it they will be sure to keep it within and not discover it by a sutable Conversation The Apostolical rule is Whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. but these consult their own to the neglect of that This is a distinct Principle of Action which not only makes it self equal but exalts it self above the Will of God for by that they are guided and if led to any thing contrary to the other they consent unto it and put him off with a Good Lord pardon me They lightly regard the Law of the Most High and think to come off with a Complemental Ejaculation In Honour they prefer themselves before him and yet vainly dream to pacifie him with a few words of Course For which of you would be thus served If your own Servants should refuse to do such Commandments of yours because they thought it an under-valuing and they should lose their Credit among their Fellow-Servants what would you do to such proud Fellows but turn them out of Doors And if they should come from time to time and formally ask your Pardon for not doing your Will and yet still through Pride refuse to do it you would be so much the more incensed against such Rascals The Case is just the same between God and thy Self however great thou art in thine own and the Worlds Opinion thou art more inferiour to Him then the meanest Scullion beneath thy self and it may be said unto thee with the same measure thou measurest it shall be meeted out to thee O thou wicked Servant What canst thou expect but to be rejected by God who in the time of thy Tryal wouldst not do his Will but only in what was agreeable to thy temporal advantage and Honour When the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord Mal. 4. 1. Will he accept of Pride as an excuse for Sin and Omission of Duty Because thou wouldst not be less esteemed of by thy Fellow-Servants Whom were you bound to seek Honour of they or him It is better to be despised by all the World then by him alone and if that be so irksome now much more would it be to rise up to everlasting Shame and Contempt and therefore it is reasonable to submit unto the less to avoid the greater Saith the Lord Christ If any Man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my Servant be if any Man serve me him will my Father Honour John 12. 26. Resign them up all unto him thy Body Substance Fame Friends Liberty and Life And it may be he will so dispose of them all that thou mayest keep them and be his Servant or if any be taken away it may be restored double Or whatever is lost with some may be gained with others Yet if not Obedience is more excellent and acceptable with God when it is with full purpose of Heart come what will come Life or Death Shame and Dishonour good Report and evil Report The Service is pure and sincere when all Selfish ends and sinister Considerations are banished When he Labours to approve himself unto God and not as in the sight of Men. When he can be content to walk in obscurity and Contempt all his Life long and make sure of his Approbation which is lasting and carries Reward with it which will make sufficient Compensation for want of a short and empty Applause The more he is despised by Men for Well-doing the more he shall be had in Honour by God. If the Heart be seasoned â—â—h Grace it is easie to despise the Shame which others would cast upon him and then it can neither disturb nor hinder from going on in the good way Too many are beaten off by Reproaches and others are discouraged Of Reproaches 1 Pet. 4 1 4. Rom. 15. 3. under them and therefore it may not be improper forasmuch as of Christ it was written The Reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me so Arm your selves likewise with the same mind The common imputations which at this time of day are cast on them who continue in all Obedience are Preciseness Folly and Singularity But had those who asperse herewith so much Wit and Ingenuity for such Revilings are never the effect Psal 15. 3. of the Grace and Fear of God to consider throughly of that Rule by which all Christians are to walk and they must go exactly according to it if they would have the Peace consequent to so doing and the future Reward thereof then I say that they cannot reasonably condemn him who lives most according to it It is esteemed no fault punctually to observe National Laws Ecclesiastical Canons and Humane Constitutions And then why should they be
and unjust giveth them all necessary temporal blessings and never intendeth any hurt by whatsoever he doth during the whole day of Salvation but still they will not be intreated by loving kindness nor warned by the Rod that striketh to turn from their evil way and come into Gods wayes If these people become wretched through their own wilfulness and perverseness and if the Holy Almighty God to frighten us the more from it and to keep up his Government hath ordered that Misery should be linked on to iniquity and they commit this with greediness Who Ezek. 14. 22 23. can be moved or find fault if they have that also which is justly the due reward of their deeds Luke 23. 41. The Law is not to be blamed but those only who do not observe or transgress against it Though there would have been joy among Angels and all good Men if they had repented who would likewise have done any thing to bring it to pass and were grieved because they would not suffer it But seeing they continued obstinate and hardned their hearts these shall not pity their Calamity nor be greived when their fear cometh which will be a further aggravation Many sorrows shall be to the Wicked But he that trusteth in the Lord mercy shall compass him about Psal 32. 10. It is a good thing to have an able friend to put confidence on in A Description of a good Man. dangers and distress but he that can stay himself on God the Rock of Ages the Lord Almighty is in a more happy condition then he that hath the favour of all the great Men of the World. Let the Wicked reckon it a Priviledge that they care not for God it hath been shewed to be a miserable one but the Righteous count it their greatest honour that God is not ashamed to be called their God Heb. 11. 16. And they poor Earth-Worms may be stiled his Servants They by Faith seeing him that is invisible who doth not despise these little ones however low in the World are rapt up with admiration Lord what are we that thou shouldst be mindful of us For consider how great he must be who made the World and all things therein how Glorious whose is the Sun and Brightness thereof Others may go and please themselves with their acquaintance with Lords and Gentlemen but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God who humbleth himself to behold the things in Heaven and Earth yet admits us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace to present our Petitions which he will grant if he knoweth what is good for us better then we our selves sees it profitable for us Those of Authority in this World say to those under them go and he goeth come and he cometh to this Man do this and he doth it much more may the Lord and Governour of the whole World unto whom the Nations of the Earth are as the drop of a Bucket command us to do whatsoever pleaseth him But as he is Powerful so he is Merciful he hath shewed what he doth require of us caused it to be noted in a Book that it may be for the time to come for ever and hath testified that no Man add unto these things Rev. 22. 18. So we are not left at an uncertainty how we may or when we have done the will of God if we are in a readiness still to hear all things that are commanded and made known from his Word Herein we are more happy then those little Spirits who endeavour to Acts 10. 33. please Men for their humours are uncertain not easily known and endless There is a delight in approaching to God those rejoycings which the devout Soul hath seem strange to the unexperienced for they make no outward noise yet are as real as sensual pleasures to Worldly Men. He calls the Sabbath a delight not doing his own Ways nor finding his own Pleasure nor speaking his own Words Isa 58. 13. It is the most pleasant day of all the Week rejoycing at this time of Vacation from worldly cares and labour but more especially because he can wait on the Lord in the Sanctuary hear his Word When he comes home he is better pleased with good Conference Prayer Reading and Meditation then others are in vain Talk wretched Idleness or Recreations for to them succced Heaviness in that they have not done what they should But with a good Man the day ends in Satisfaction that he hath done his duty by rightly using the means of Grace he hath laid up in the Treasure of his Heart some good things which may carry him through Temptation and give comfort the week following He hath refreshed himself from bodily labour so he can fall to it again more cheerfully The goodness of God is here to be observed how the Sabbath was made for Man and not Man for the Sabbath Mark 2. 27. For if he were to labour every day it would be intolerable and irksome But now it is not because a day of rest returns so often which also takes off from the tediousness of the Year Since it is thus ordained the time of Mans labour passeth on more comfortably and there is more variety in the weck he is cumbred about getting necessaries for this miserable and transitory life on the Lords day he provides for an Happy and Eternal being How contentedly doth he go to bed that night with the Memory of what he hath thrived in The merchandize of which is better then the Merchandize of Silver Prov. 3. 14. The next Morning he goes forth ively land willingly to the work of his Calling which he follows with honesty and diligence The just Man walketh in his Integrity doth not fear to see any for he hath wronged none hath a good Report and Commendation among his Neighbours and they being assâ—red of his Faithfulness are willing to deal with him so he hath greater Custom and Employment There are opportunities when he might get more if he would Lye Circumvent or take advantage over an ignorant Person but he will not for that lose his present Peace and future Reward He that getteth Riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a Fool Jer. 17. 11. He shall now have no true Comfort of them and there will be a worse consequent hereafter But for him That walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he despiseth the Gains of oppression He shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of Rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure Isa 33. 15 16. He shall come to Heaven his Habitation shall be in the place of the Most High and in the mean while shall be sure of a Livelihood God hath ordained The just shall live by Faith Hab. 2. 4. Not serve him for Sinister Respects or present Ends Yet they have sufficient and God sweetens it as much to them as those who
loss or forecast more gain and when obtained to consume it all presently in a good Dinner or two this must be imprudence To see no fruit or increase of his labour to lay up nothing for Children and there are other like mischiefs which more then weigh down all that small and seeming good of excessive eating Such kind of considerations prevail with the greater part of Mankind to abstain from it They generally go over to the other extream for they rather defraud themselves to scrape and hoard up It is strange that a reasonable creature should not hit upon the right mean between both but from one evil runs to another He might eat and drink and make his Soul enjoy good in his Labour Eccles 2. 24. But because that doth not give full satisfaction which was designed only to refresh therefore he falsly seeks for it in another sin of covetousness Even those people who are but little governed by Reason less by Faith but principally led by sence and example yet have a low esteem of that good which arises from immoderate eating It makes dull and heavy it causeth a gross understanding and weary mind and takes away Mirth Nature rejoyces when it is relieved not when oppressed God hath given great variety of his good Creatures for our benefit and comfort Gen. 1. 29. Gen 9. 3 4. 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. And hath shewed an excellent way of enjoying them in his Word Ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied not clogged and praise the Name of the Lord your God Joel 2. 26. Blessed be his Divine goodness we have more precious promises under the Gospel but however are so to receive the things pertaining to life that we may more cheerfully perform this duty But if the heart is overcharged with good Victuals then it cannot be lifted up in thank-giving This would be a sinful and horrible abuse though too common amongst the Worshippers of God who on their Solemn Feast-Dayes in memory of our Redemption accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ instead of an offering of Praise to a Spiritual and Holy Being as if they were to Sacrifice to Men of like inclinations with themselves do then load themselves with good cheer This is the day which the Lord hath made we will rejoyce and be glad in it Psal 118. 24. But some are so pressed with fulness that they cannot and if they are forced to raise that with the help of strong drink this is not Spiritual Joy but Sinful Mirth Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish People and unwise By keeping the Feast with the leaven of Sin and Wickedness Is that your tribute and return of praise to provoke him yet more Is that a seasonable time of Rioting and Drunkenness when you should put on the Lord Jesus and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13 13. 14. When one is puffed up with Sensuality he is apt to disregard the things of God and they have not a due impression on him which seems to be the reason of such strict precepts against it for that is the evil of sin to turn away the heart or to stifle that aw and sence of God we should always have upon our minds and we are to prevent all degrees tending towards it so the single acts of intemperance are to be carefully avoided It is necessary to repeat again our Lords Command the words of expressing it are observable Take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting Luke 21. 34. At every Meal use the utmost caution for you can quickly run over to excess It was noted of the Wicked Gnosticks of feeding themselves without fear Jude 12. They had no regard to the sin and danger which doth easily beset our Feasts There are also corrupt cravings within which would betray into it if resisted they will at length lose their force and importunity but if yielded unto they will be more urgent If this sin deprives of a Kingdom and hinders from present Happiness may it not rightly â—e named a deceiver Which supplants a Man twice bereaves of good here and hereafter And who will continue herein is a prophane Person as Esau who for one morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right Heb. 12. 16. All the dainties of the whole life long are not so much to Heaven as that single mess of Pottage to a temporal inheritance May he not be stiled prophane in that he defiled the Temple of God by making use of his body only to receive superfluities in to fill and empty it again Let him not deceive himself if he seemeth to be wise in his own conceit because he hath something in hand by eating to the utmost and of the best he doth see others abstemious neglecting the body not valuing his Luxury but he doth not perceive they get any thing by so doing As for his part he is for satisfying the flesh to the very full for he is sure of what he puts into his Mouth But this Wisdom of the Glutton is foolishness and so will appear in the end When he shall come to be rejected of God for his past delicacies how fain would he enter into those good things prepared for such who through grace qualifie themselves here but who neglected that for inordinate trifles which then utterly disappear he will have sufficient reason to take up an exceeding bitter cry when the Lord will not pronounce on him the eternal Blessing If there is so little good to be had by this Will another kind Of Drunness of excess afford more Come and see By Drunkenness is understood when one drinketh so much as to lose the free use and exercise of his reason God hath made Man for himself endued his mind with faculties and expects to be glorified by them now when these are rendred unable for that he is dishonoured his will is contradicted which is a provocation of his most excellent Majesty Herein is some of the evil and the sin is in being contrary to his revealed Word and Command VVo unto them that rise up early in the Morning that they may follow strong drink that continue till night till Wine inflame them Wo unto them that are mighty to drink VVine and Men of Strength to mingle strong drink Isa 5. 11 22. Whom God Curses Man Blesses for who is esteemed a more worthy and honest Person then he that will not baulk his Liquor Surely those were strange times much differing from ours when Paul wrote Not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Drunkard with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. But now if a Man is not a Drunkard he is not thought fit to keep Company He is a dull Fool and who will come near him So much we who call our selves Christians and in things which do not relate to Lust are admirers of Antiquity have varied from the primitive Fashion Then they that were
commit the same offence Why will they not be perswaded to come out of such a way To draw off from so great a danger VVhen Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the Sea-shore the People feared the Lord and believed the Lord and his Servant Moses Exod. 14. 30 31. And have you not known some who have been as it were drowned in a Flood of Drink Who have brought themselves into the Dropsy and other Diseases and several ways have came to an untimely fearful end And will you not fear the Lord and believe on the Lord his Son and Apostles who make mention of worse things to come hereafter then what we see commonly happen How oft is the Candle of the wicked put out And how oft cometh their destruction upon them God distributeth Sorrows in his Anger Job 21. 17. How many have we heard to have killed themselves with Brandy who have burnt up their own Vital Spirits with the greater heat of Liquors and by innumerable Accidents have been hastily cut off and all occasioned through Intemperance Job calls it their Destruction for themselves are the Author of it and is not God displeased with Mens doings after this manner Some may be apt to say this is too home But it is too trueby sad and daily experience and fit to be observed that all henceforward may take care to themselves Examples should be taken Notice of and VVritten for our Admonition upon whom the ends of the VVorld are come 1 Cor. 10. 11. In this Generation also where Drunkenness doth abound and the Men are sâ—tled on their lees Zeph. 1. 12. If any hath a real love and compassion for Mankind he is not to be blamed if he doth use the most plain and obvious expressions to prevent those evils which come upon them by their Sin and Folly. Any words are more tolerable then to suffer the thing it self Several will find fault with this way of Writing used in this Chapter especially But they are desired to consider likewise how the stile of Scripture runs exactly according to those Times when it was first Penned and that is to be the Rule of all after Ages If others think that here it Psal 119. 42. hath been varied from when those common sayings and excuses were inserted which are not to be found in the Word yet there it is said Answer a fool according to his fully least he be wise in his Prov. 26. 5 own conceit It hath been endeavoured to convince them in their own way of Arguing for why should Wickedness brave it out and pass uncontradicted We have assurance that one time yet to come All iniquity shall stop her Mouth Psal 107. 42. The means to accomplish which is to take off that Colour and Varnish of Reason to discover that plausible shew of Wit with which Men countenance their Sin. For he flattereth himself in his own sight until his Iniquity shall be found to be hateful Psal 36. 2. Which hath been here somewhat manifested according to the Ability God hath given Let the Mad and Frantick World pause for a while why you may continue Men still and yet go in another way You may still retain the same Affections and Desires and have them at present in a good manner contented however you may refrain for a little while from the full Gratification of them You are now all for good Drink the prescribed Measure is now much better then excess but for further encouragement Our Lord said just before his Passion I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine until that day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God Mark 14. 25. And in this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all People a Feast of fat Things a Feast of Wines on the lees of fat things full of Marrow of Wines on the lees well refined Isa 25. 6 Indeed such gross and sensual Pleasures are not to be expected in Heaven as result from Eating and Drinking even here it is said well refined But undoubtedly others will be substituted in the Room which shall more refresh then these do now according to what another Prophet saith Their heart shall rejoyce as through Wine their heart shall rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. It shall give us alike satisfaction as Wine doth now but as much greater and of longer continuance as the Infinite and everlasting God in whom all fulness dwells doth exceed that little and empty delight which is now to be had from the Creature The Spirit of God condescends to our Infirmity and exhorts to his Obedience by promising the same things which we now eagerly desire after Who is all for pleasant Drink hath the very same invitation to follow after the things of his Kingdom If the Drunkard will leave off his sinful Courses he shall find more content and less inconveniency moreover exceeding great and Eternal Happiness hereafter Perhaps he will say he hath been so long used to it that he cannot Indeed a wicked habit is not quickly or easily shaken off it crept on by degrees and will stick close but there is an absolute necessity Except ye repent ye shall perish twice asserted Luke 13. And that is a through change of mind and reformation of Life if he hath been guilty of Drunkenness let him ask Pardon for it and be so no more Seek for the Grace of God which is sufficient to subdue the power of this or any Sin. The Man must be sure sincerely to labour together therewith and endeavour to be freed from Sottishness the same way he got it let him daily deny himself somewhat and abridge a little of his wonted Measure by this means he may be at length free from it It is commonly pleaded by him who lies under a custom of sin that he cannot forsake it So he flatters and beguiles his own Soul that either God will not require him to do an impossible thing and therefore he shall be excused or he is an hard Master to shut a Man out of Heaven and cast him into Hell for a thing he could not help But O wicked Servant Wherefore dost thou to keep thine own wickedness accuse God foolishly and falsly For he will not lay upon Man more then right that he should enter into Judgment with God Job 34. 23. Repent if peradventure the iniquity of thine heart may be forgiven Consider seriously thou alone hast wilfully brought thy self under the Power and Slavery of Sin. By former hardening thy heart and not hearing Gods Voice when thou hadst more strength and sin less At the first entrance upon the Practice of it thou couldst more easily have not done then done it after thou couldst refrain with a small irksomness till sin at length began to prevail through thine own neglect to resist and willingness to entertain it And because it is more difficult to part with thou concludest impossible No habit however long in contracting is impossible to be removed it may be
back and mend If he doth daily add more and make it longer yet he will never have done for it is endless He vainly pleases himself with the additions he makes but cannot come to true contentment for he will never see an end of his labour and at last if it should reach from one corner of the Earth to the other it would not fill his mind In like manner he that gathereth Riches doth often lose somewhat he hath already gotten this is disquietude If he doth daily make his heap greater he hugs himself with a slight fancy or Opinion but when will his work be at an end For there is more to be gotten still If he should compass Sea and Land get the whole World into his possession yet all would not satisfie his Soul. If raised up to its due pitch all the Gold of Ophir cannot satisfie her exceeding desires which reach after greater things Do ye think those who have the Stars under their feet value these little things here below The faithful Christian whilst in the body with his mind ascends up and thence casts a contemptuous eye upon the little dazling things here with which he thinks irksome to abide A Chest cannot be filled with Wisdom nor a Bag with understanding no more can the Soul with the corruptible things of Gold and Silver I may here appeal to the unbelieving earthly Man who makes the worst use of reason by employing it to so mean purposes as to lade himself with thick Clay Is there need of much study and polite learning to fill a Dung-pot How much hast thou got already If a cart-load of Coyn and many thousand Acres of Land yet dost thou not covet more Hast thou not pulled down the Old and built greater Barns Hast not thou forgotten thy former little requests and is not thy appetite stretched out larger to receive yet more The greater extent his Estate is of the more parcels of ground lye adjoyning to them which would be Commodious and so he is led on with endless desire Well reflect upon them altogether and do they yield true and real contentment Are thy desires abated with daily Multiplying It is strange that a reasonable Creature should set his Love upon and be hankering after that which doth not satisfie When he hath long tryed and cannot stop the least craving yet still to go on making it the more importunate and urgent If thousands of Gold and Silver will not content a single Desire how can it be expected that adding a few hundreds more should presently dam up the whole Current of them If a Gallon of drink will not quench the Thirst of a Dropsie much less will a spoonful There is a wrong Application and Remedy to cure the disease of the mind for so it may be here called in that it doth torment and only through this mistake bring evil upon Men. That constant and endless Thirst after Happiness They do not take the right Course to allay or to obtain what they so much long after Some make use of one thing some of another but here the Man trys if he can do it with inconstant and perishing Riches so unsutable but further because the thing to be redressed is within and this is without Was ever such Sottishness when one is ready to perish with Hunger and Thirst only to give him Gold to smell unto And there being as natural a Desire in the Soul after Happiness as the Body after Food and Moisture how can Money truly â—ase that which is of a more noble and different Nature when it will not so much as the earthly part of us What Pleasure is to behold that when the Sun and other parts of the Creation are a more excellent Object What advantage to claim Property in that wherein is no real Worth and Excellency It is not so much the glittering of Gold for that becomes Dim nor the â—ine colour of Silver for that appears as Dross which doth ravish the Eyes but the Pride of Life invites and then Covetousness begins When it is considered how much respect it Commands how such an one is honoured by the People because he is Rich this raisâ—s in another a Desire of being so likewise The Nature of Man is very prone to Pride he Aims at something wherein he may exceed the rest of his Brethren and this vain perswasion of Happiness puts them upon their several Designs Learning is esteemed but Pedantry by those who do not understand it Wisdom is justly preferred before Rubies but that is stretched up above present things and few do apprehend its excellency because there is no such visible advantage Honour is Prov. 8. 11. a puff of Breath and the appendant of Riches so they have the precedency before all things and thence most try to abound with them Behold his Soul which is lifted up is not upright in him But the just shall live by his Faith Yea also because he transgresseth by VVâ—ne he is a proud Man neither keepeth at home who enlargeth his Desire as Hell and is as Death and cannot be satisfied but gathereth unto him all Nations and heapeth unto him all People Hab. 2. 4 5. An exâ—ct Description of the great and covetous Man He is exalted and grown stately if he hath a large Estate already then he will not deny himself the best Liquors but take them of to Drunkenness he doth not value to save so small a Matter as that would amount unto He is not contented with his own Possessions but goes abroad and seeks for new Purchases Shall we therefore conclude him to be an Happy Man No more then the Grave is filled if Carkasses are daily put into it for it iâ— still open for more When he obtains he hath not enough he was impatient before and restless now All inordinate Affection hath torment according to its Being more or less inordinate And why then should a Man heighten that in himself seeing thereby he increases his own Misery If he were so eagerly desirous afâ—er some real good thing this were not to be blamed For though there is Vexation in being so yet if the thing be had it recompences if not the Expectation did somewhat lessen and it is some Comfort at the last that he did not Labour for the VVind it would stand him in stead if he had accomplished it But when one runs so earnestly after an appearance of Satisfaction that hath often deceived him when he hath proposed in the mean while such Contentment yet hath been as often disapointed and of this he may be every day more convinced yet still to go on What doth all this but fulfil the Scriptures Their Silver and Gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord They shall not satisfie their Souls neither fill their Bowels Because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity Ezek. 7. 19. Behold is it not of the Lord of Hosts that the People shall
kept from doing mischief the Teeth grind and chatter Reason is banished and nothing but Rage to be seen all these outward signs do discover that strange agitation and restlessness the Soul is in This is properly Wrath the highest degree of Anger Man is despicable to look upon abstractedly but when thus stirred one would admire so little a Creature should do so great things His Soul is never so much discerned to be confined and pent up in a narrow Room as then it would break through the Walls and causes those about him to fear Then is raised a ferment and heat of the Blood which is no more true courage though it hath a shew thereof then desperate acts and ravings of distracted Persons Neither is it Wisdom The Fool rageth and is confident He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly Prov. 14. 16 17. The discretion of a Man defereth Anger and it is his Glory to pass over a Transgression Prov. 19. 11. Who knows the utmost that is in an injury is least moved with it and also this is a sign of a truly great and exalted Spirit for Reeds and not Oaks are shaken with the Wind. A little and empty Soul is tossed to and fro with every breath of provoking Language He serves like the fightings of Wild Beasts to divert Spectators only such an one is worse and more destitute of understanding for they bite others but he teareth himself in his Anger Job 18. 4. The whole Man is hurry and division from himself for the time he knows not what he doth That inward Vexation and Perplexity that Impatiency and desire of Revenge those Malicious Wishes of Hurt if they should not come forth into Act do certainly hurt himself But commonly it proves Mischievous to others both to Multitudes and single Persons Many thousands in the prime of Age have went down to the Slaughter have joyned to Butcher one another as if they were to make a Feast of their own Flesh to the Destroyer Surely he laughs and Smiles if we may suppose that of the infernal and accursed Spirit to see poor Mortals do the work themselves and of their own accord fall a Prey into his Teeth Let none say this evil is from God for he hath no pleasure in the destruction of the living He maketh VVars to cease unto the end of the Earth Psal 46. 9. So Isa 2. 4. Miâ— 4. 3. Psal 68. 30. Which with the Parallel places shall be yet fulfilled He hath sent his Son the Prince of Peace who hath promulged such a Law to the World that if observed there would be no VVars and fightings among us but they come from Mens lusts Jam. 4. 2. Ambition and Revenge are the great Incendiaries which sprang from him who would be like the Most High and thence fell from Heaven And therefore now continues his hatred against God by with-drawing as many as he can from his Obedience and also his own envy at the Happiness to which Men are appointed which he hinders as much as he can It is his employment to nourish and instil in the hearts of Men all things that may do hurt amongst which Rage is one Principal Instrument for carrying on his Pestilent design It works Transgression against God and Mischief to Men both the Actors and Sufferers It goes forth by Armies or two by two When People have not opportunity to assemble themselves by Troops to shed Blood the Devil takes care they may do it by single parcels If he who is placed under God for this purpose keeps the whole Community in Peace and Qâ—ietness yet the Spirit which worketh in the Children of Disobedience stirreth them up severally to kill or maim one another which it is impossible for Humane Government wholly to prevent for that doth not reach within and therefore can no more stop the beginning of Passion then the first breaking forth of fire If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all Men. Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath For it is Written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Rom. 12. 18 19. This is pished off and slighted without duly considering the reason of the Command It is matter of the greatest astonishment that so little and contemptible a being as the Son of Man is should behave himself stoutly and disdainfully against the Lord his God that he who in himself is very fearful and trembles at every thing should dare to provoke his Maker The reason of such abominable presumption is That God having here ordained a life of Tryal and Obedience of Faith The place of his Especial residence is in Heaven which is afar of And he remains invisible undiscovered to the blinded world So they either not know or not think of him and therefore use so much boldness and contempt towards him But should he be pleased to manifest himself a little more had they but the least beholding of his Majesty and Greatness these same persons would creep who now lift up themselves against the Holy One of Israel No Question there were some of as daring Spirits as any now among us who stood by Mount Sinai when God descended there and we know what effect it had upon them The like is not to be expected again in this World but yet they shall be summoned to meet with that God against whom they have been disobedient and shall have a more sensible and lasting apprehension then the Israelites had for their Souls will be terrour round about Men may be Rebellious and so indeed are in the days of their Flesh but when they shall drop out of that Nothing hinders from certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the Adversaries Heb. 10. 27. Go to the proud Men and tell them they must not revenge their Injuries but leave them to God for he saith Is not this laid up in store with me and sealed up among my Treasures To me belongeth Vengeance and Recompence Deut. 32. 34 35. They will be ready to Answer like unto Pharoah Who is the Lord that I should obey him They are for using it themselves To which it may be replied in the Words following Their foot shall slide in due time for the day of their Calamity is at hand and the things that shall come upon them make haste And then they shall know who is the Lord and wherefore he Commanded so It is a received Rule among the Men of Fashion if any receives an Affront his own Sword must do him Right and he will venture his Life to accomplish it Thinking that if he is killed there is an end of all his Vexation for the given Injury and he had rather die then endure it but if he should overcome then he gets Honour and is revenged on his Enemy But is â—e resolved to kill or be killed Let him be told before he goes that he Acts like a Fool for if he gains the Field
to us all for the Lord to put us in fear that we may know our selves to be but Men Psal 9. 20. When we are lifted up this depresseth us low again we are swoln with Pride but contracted with Fear That is Big and Stately this shrinks into its due Posture That struts and thinks it shall never be moved this reminds of the Truth that he is subject to injury and falling What a Monstrous thing would Man be if there was nothing to allay the proud Humour Whither would he be carried when every little thing doth puff him up as it doth a Bubble if there was not to pull down A small conceit of Happiness transports him beyond himself so it is requisite a sence of that Misery within him and he is further liable unto should humble and reduce him into right Frame That he should not be always cheated and exalted with a Lye but be truly informed of his own State and Condition Let him not imagine he is come only to Swagger here or think himself the chiefest in the Creation Our Lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. 4. For assuredly there is One greater then he Who made him and gave himself power thus to Domineer must be more great And it is he who is infinitely above us and him we ought to Fear As he made so he can dash in pieces He hath fashioned us subject to Frailty and Consumption within to Hurt and Casualty without He doth good so likewise he can Punish He is the great Law-giver who is able to save and destroy Indeed the sence thereof is the cause of all the Fear in the World tho Men would fain stifle the Apprehension of God which he hath ordered to be conveyed unto them by their own Fears yet they will not acknowledge him whom they do Fear What malicious stubbornness is this What absurd folly Besides natural awe and reverence Rom. 1. they do dread him by reason of Transgression and they will sin yet more by not owning him They will not speak out what they can hardly conceal They would shut him out of their mind who is in every part and visible in all the World besides All the faculties of the Soul do discover him the inclination of the understanding to know him the desire and will to enjoy him and every affection doth somewhat manifest him The Lord Reigneth let the People tremble Psal 99. 1. Some foolishly disdaining to be kept under who ignorantly would have been freed from what is their greatest honour and good have hence attempted at the very foundation but by so doing they only â—urt themselves and provoke him yet more God is above and hath power over Men they can neither make him nor themselves cease to be or preserve themselves from his Dominion Neither let the Worldly Wise Men think themselves secure because they will drive the Sence and Fear of God out from within them But he remembers their despising and negligence of him They do only for a little time put off their Fears and Doubts which will return sadly upon themselves when past remedy I also will choose their delusions and will bring their Fears upon them because when I called none did Answer when I Spake they did not Hear Isa 66. 4. In this short and vain life Men may cast out of their hearts the Fear of God and harden themselves against him but from the day of their Death they will be forced to Fear him when Fear will do no good Their Soul will leap out nothing but fright and consternation and their Tormenting Passions will be stretched out to the utmost In temporal evils the fear is often greater but it is contrary as to Eternal Who knoweth the Power of thine Anger Even according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath Psal 90. 11. And however some will not Fear the greater yet they do the less If they do not choose the Fear of the Lord they are afraid of every thing besides which hath the least Power to do hurt let them pretend what they will they do secretly but unwillingly dread him And this is the reason of that universal practice amongst the Men of this World to hear or think as little of him as may be for they are uneasie and disturbed every time they hear him named unless by way of customary Oath and Provocation Which is one reason that makes the sin of rash Swearing and taking Gods Name in Vain so much in use upon frivolous Matters and Idle Expressions for hereby it is made so familiar and common as takes off from that inward trembling they have at the least serious thoughts of him This is directly contrary to the third Commandment which seems to have been therefore given that this Glorious and Fearful Name THE LORD THY GOD Deut. 28. 58. should not be made vile and cheap for that would destroy the reverence we owe unto him But this is a silly device of the wicked for thus they sin yet more and by only stifling the sence they do not take away but increase the cause of their Fear So it is likewise of their talking of Religion in their Drunken Fits which is laughed at for a merry Fashion but is Abominable and Provoking and is because they cannot bear the sober thoughts thereof If one was to unravel the whole Mystery of Iniquity how much folly and contradiction would he find therein But for all Mens doing they will never be too strong for the Almighty nor 1 Cor. 10. 22. too cunning for the All-wise God. How much better had they submit and confess unto God Thou even thou art to be feared Psal 76. 7. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Isa 8. 13 14. They must necessarily and also do Fear somewhat and on whom should it be placed but who is most worthy thereof With God is terrible Majesty touching the Almighty we cannot find him out he is excellent in Power and in Judgment and in Pleâ—ty of Justice he will not afflict Men do therefore fear him Job 37. 22 23 24. Take God in both his Natures When he is Angry or Merciful he is to be Feared Our God is a consuming Fire Heb. 12. 29. And it is no disparagement for the stoutest heart to run from that yea he doth And if some out of damned Pride may pretend to slight this thinking it cowardly to fear invisible powers yet the time of Trial will come upon themselves And he that is couragious among the Mighty shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord Amos 2. 16. Zeph. 1. 14. His Power and Indignation will command Fear from the greatest of his Enemies so his Majesty and Goodness do require Reverence and Godly Fear from all his Servants Who would not fear thee O King of Nations For to thee doth it appertain Forasmuch as among all the Wise Men of the
pitiful Sneak not knowing the Object of his Worship and Adoration Notwithstanding those High but silly Imaginations 2 Cor. 10. 5. of Men yet themselves judge that the more an ordinary subject is in favour with his Prince and hath access unto him though in never so submissive a manner it is more for his honour And then as much as God is greater then Man so must it be more dignity to be allowed approaching unto him If we consider it throughly Should not his Excellency make us afraid There is awe and horrour to address immediately to so Glorious a God and therefore it is necessary to have express invitation from him first as Blessed be his Glorious Name for ever we have Deâ—t 4. 19. Psal 50. 15. Jâ—r 29. 13. and throughout his whole Book But more especially in these last days by Christ Jesus our Lord in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him Eph. 3. 11 12. We are required to ask in his Name John 15. 16 16. 23. Who also through his transcendent greatness expressed Phil. 2. 6. Heb. 1. 3. might keep us off yet he humbleth himself to take upon him our flesh to become as one of us and more familiar to our Nature Such a Mediator and intercessour was expedient for us who by his relation to God might prevail with him and seeing he was pleased to become as one of our Brethren we may the more presume to address unto and through him Seeing then that we have a great high Priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God a double exhortation follows let us hold fast our profession Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace that we may obtain Mercy and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4. 16. For what Nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for Deut. 4. 7. Is he a God sometimes near and sometimes afar off Or can we with our Prayers bring him down from above No God abideth still the same and equally near he continually â—ills Heaven and Earth with his presence but the Word and Prayer makes the Sence of him near upon our Minds The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him to all that call upon him in Truth He will fulfill the desâ—â—e of them that fear him Psal 145. 18 19. Which is the greatest and most inestimable priviledge that ever did or can belong to the Sons of Men It raises a dread and love for the Divine Majesty It astonishes with his infinite condescention to admit thereof To fall low on our knees before his Foot-stool is an higher advancement then to converse with Angels or talk familiarly with the greatest Monarch on Earth And so it would more appear if God did keep us at a distance as our Superiours according to the flesh do through imperfection for if they should make their company common it would have Contempt instead of Estimation but the more one knows of God it raises more admiration and delight How strange is it that Men who believe God is who is so Great and Glorious as his visible Works do manifest and may be more understood by his invisible things yet should think any thing low or mean which hath relation to him or his Worship God standeth in the Congregation of the Mighty he judgeth among Gods Psal 82. 1. Yet many do refuse to bend the knee when Prayers are offered unto him when if the same Persons were to deliver a Petition unto the Kings of the Earth would kneel before them Such are Proud and Ignorant who perform Worship with carelessness or irreverent gesture But what is to be said of the natural ungodly Man who slights that relation which God doth vouchsafe to continue this way towards us Since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee Isa 43. 4. And so it will illustriously appear when we who know him by Faith shall after this life come to have the fruition of his glorious God head Should we be â—eparated from any affinity to him had we nothing divine within us or when we are in honour will deface his Image and provoke him to disown us wiâ—h I never knew you Mat. 7. 23. We should be but pitiful forelorn Creatures at present as those will be who work iniquity and transgress against him They shall go forth and look upon the Carkâ—ses of the Men that have transgressed against me and they shall be an abhorring unto all Flesh Isa 66. 24. Observe the slighting kind of phrase the Holy Ghost makes use of that such little despicable and vile Beings should behave themselves contemptuous and stubborn against a Most Excellent and Glorious Majesty If he who will at last reveal himself were not now out of our siâ—ht there could be no tryal of this whether Men would do so or not as at present there is and therefore they do it Had we not a spiritual and immortal Soul which hath a near similitude of the Divine Nature how mean and frail should we be To be just enlivened with naked and vile bodies subject to all the miseries of Nature liable for a prey to the stronger Beasts and every Creature might insult over us which also they would if they had the same corrupt Seeds of Evil for we should be more destitute then they having no reason to arm and secure our selves And then we could not so much as get the dominion over them much less lift up our selves against the Great Creator of all things Now mark the strange degeneracy of Humane Nature let the whole World stand amazed at it Hear O Heavens and give ear O Earth For the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up Children and they have rebelled against me The Ox knoweth his owner and the Ass his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Isa 1. 2 3. That power which was given to know and glorifie him is turned to contemn and dishonour him We are but meer Creatures the very work of his hands all our good and excellency we receive from him What least part of us did we make our selves Shall the Ax boast himself against him that â—eweth therewith Or shall the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it as if the Rod should shake it self against them that list it up or as if the staff should lift up it self as if it were no wood Isa 10. 15. There is a vain perswasion in Man that he is his own that he is independent exalted and beholden to nothing though in his body are all things to humble and contradict this Opinion Infancy Childhood continued Weakness Mortality Yet he still bears in mind what the Serpent told his Fore-fathers Ye shall be as Gods Gen. 3. 5. In a worse sence of self-existing What lofty thoughts are in this poor
ye may consume it upon your Lusts Jam. 4 3. Even what may be occasion of Sin Pride Vanity Dis-esteem or Forgetfulness of God And therefore he in Goodness denies it And this is the Confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us 1 John 5. 14. Whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight 1 John 3. 22. This Qualification is too often wanting for some make many Prayers and give no Obedience or an half one with reserves and so their Petitions are not granted as is implyed from Deut. 4. 29. Isa 59. 2. Jer. 29. 13. Again The effectual fervent Prayer of the righteous Man availeth much Jam. 5. 16. but that doth not which is Lazy and Negligent And then want of importunity Luke 18. Such Causes may be assigned out of the Word why there is not so great return to our Prayers as may be expected And whatever People think the fault is only in themselves they have not those necessary Qualifications or do not order their Prayers according to the Rule Gods word is Truth but Men do not obey and are not guided by it The Promise is certain Mat. 7. 7. Rom. 10. 13. but they do not perform the Conditions and to excuse themselves would imagine there might be falshood in that which came by Inspiration from him If mankind would remember where they are that is they are going in the way and therefore should be contented with the Patriarchs request of Bread to eat and Raiment to put on Gen. 28. 20. Let none fear he that doth Gods Will and useth the appointed means shall be assured of this That Petition Give us our daily Bread Christ never put in vain neither is his Promise Mat. 6. 33. come to an utter end More then this we have no where License to ask neither hath God passed his word to bestow We are apt to grudge at such a small Pittance as we would think it But do we not believe what is to come Do we consider wherefore this is desired 〈◊〉 contentment and delight Now God can and also doth add as much of this into a moderate competency as in all plenty and 〈◊〉 In truth happiness doth not consist in these things which serve only for the body the worse part of us and then it passeth away instantly and the pleasure is the same whether had or not had The desire of the obedient Soul is if he hath sufficient for Life and Godliness not that God would give him more but bleâ—s and sanctifie that which he hath and then he will perceive as good a relish as others do from their abundance To the truth of this many thousands in a lower condition can bear Witness God puts joy and gladness into their hearts with what he affords them as others have in their full increase of Corn and Wine As for Praying against Temporal Evils or Judgments whether National or Private there is little said in the Gospel the Motto whereof may be For we walk by Faith and not by sight Here again is a tryal of it for they seem to happen at all peradventure and are the effect of natural causes some have been hereupon tempted to deny immediate Judgments sent by God or think that affliction springs from the dust the ill constitution of that part of us or the common Malice and Injury of Men. Indeed God hath permitted and ordered Nature to go in her way and doth seldom contradict that But here it comes to pass that the Ax is liâ—ted up above the Carpenter what the Workman doth is imputed to the dead instrument that cannot move or do any thing without the hand that sets it a going Nature doth all things according to the common voice of the generality which proceeds from unbelief or sullenness Whereas they might know this nature must be from some one else who makes it to act in so regular and constant a way Nature of it self is blind and could never bring forth things in such an exact orderly manner unless directed by the Wisdom above It is turned and winded and whence should this be but from the first mover of all things The infidels when they are beaten out of every hold and shelter will run for refuge underground their last resort is to the workings of Nature but these turn against them and prove contrary to what they would have so they had better now then be forced to it at the last day to move out of their holes like Worms of the Earth they shall be afraid of the Lord their God and fear because of thee Mic. 7. 17. They had better acknowledge that now unto His Glory and to obtain his Pardon what they will at last be compelled to do to his Justice and Truth but their own Shame and Confusion of Face Even hard hearted Pharoah understood more then they for he did not cry out it was the Wind that brought the Locusts he knew the hand that smote him The Lord brought an East-wind and the East-wind brought the Locusts and the Lord turned a mighty strong West-wind which turned away the Locusts Exod. 10. 13 16 19. He might have magnified and made himself more visible by bringing them a strange way but he was pleased to make use of a second cause as he doth generally in all his doings towards the Children of Men whether in sending Judgment or Mercy As afterwards in the Manna and Quails Psal 78. 23 24 26 27. Unless a Man is low and short in his reasoning he must at last reduce all to the first cause of things Hos 6. 3. Though one acts by subordinate instruments yet still he is at free liberty to act or not act and again after this or that manner God hath the disposal of all second causes and what we esteem accident is wise design or permission which he can either hinder or intend as he pleases so his providence is still the same Who brings on evil by its next cause can also remove it He who suffered them can also take away the impediments as he doth shut the Womb so he doth open it For the Pillars of the Earth are the Lords and he hath set the World upon them 1 Sam. 2. 8. All things are his and then certainly he can turn and dispose them howsoever he will Though he hath now appointed things to go on in such a manner yet he sits at the Helm and manages the whole course of Nature according to his good pleasure and Sovereignty But because it goes on most commonly in the same way there do arise doubts when it is thus wisely contrived that all who consider throughly must believe a Providence for things here below which again continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation this exercises the belief thereof We may pray against outward evils that God would be pleased to remove what he doth
Face whom we now remember but Praise abideth to eternal Ages I will be bold to say When we shall be invested with this exceeding and enduring Happiness our thanks will not be so much now is the only time of Faith and Thanksgiving This is the only day to magnifie our God for giving unto us exceeding great and precious Promises Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in Heaven and in the Earth Psal 113. 5 6. He who made doth now preserve govern and dispose of them according to the good Pleasure of his Will. So we are to acknowledge and offer up thanks for all his Mercies and wonderful Works towards us Whether in Relation to Soul or Body this Life or that to come It is an imperfection of ours to judge any Mercies to be small for God gives nothing unworthy of his Majesty but the littleness is in our selves his Mercies are fitted to our mean Capacity Knowledge and Instruction are not imparted to Horse or Mule neither are we to expect the understanding of an Angel for our present Condition could not bear it According as his Divine Power hath given unto us all things that pertain to Life and Godliness 2 Pet. 1. 3. Even what belongs to this dying Life and vile Body yet there is such a necessity and Connexion of them in order to greater that they call for our most humble and hearty thanks That prepares for an immortal Being and we have all our Treasure in this earthen Vessel which also is to be changed and made Glorious and Incorruptible In our Body every Bone Artery and Vein is Subservient to the whole so the manifold Blessings of God are for our present and eternal Good. Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father and in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 5. 20. This is a most just and reasonable Command notwithstanding it may seem odd and precise in the sight of the World when done as to common things But if it were not thus esteemed the Duty would not be so Excellent for that more appears when one is contented to suffer shame and be accounted strange and ridiculous only for the sake of God. It seems uncouth through Zech. 3. 8. disuse and because it is not generally Practised The want whereof is through Pride and Sullenness disobedience and ungodliness ignorance and unbelief which in these corrupt times bear sway over the greater part of mankind But if these wicked hindrances were removed there would be giving of thanks at all times and in all places from the greatest to the least A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master Mal. 1. 6. Themselves would not like to have a kindness and good turn requited with slight Forgetfulness and Ingratitude But they do not perceive the Goodness and Mercies of God as they do other things which come from one another which they bring take Or get by their own Power Let any one that imagines so stand forth Deut. 8. 18. and answer Who made him to be a Man and gave him Power to do whatsoever he doth What hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it Why art thou not thankful One cause is what is of all Irreligion and Wickedness that thou hast these things nevertheless God is kind to the unthankful and evil Luke 6. 35. observe who is ranked first and therefore they remain so If God should make known himself and his Works a little more then he hath done already there would be no Tryal of any ones Submission or Thankfulness Because now he would prove whether Men will bless his Holy Name therefore they refuse But let such know they may have their good things and Consolation and hence pass to his Judgment Seat of whom they have been unmindful and sullen Hear ye and give Ear be not Proud for the Lord hath spoken Give Glory to the Lord your God before he cause Darkness and before your Feet stumble upon the dark Mountains Jer. 13. 15 16. If I may use such a familiar Phrase Do but behave your selves Civil towards God in this World that you may meet him with Comfort in the next Let us offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God continually that is the Fruit of our Lips giving thanks to his Name Heb. 13. 15. This is no hard thing It is so small a Duty and under the Majesty and Greatness of God that we need an express Revelation to assure that he accepts thereof If himself had not said Whoso offereth Praise glorifieth me Psal 50. 23. A considering Person could not believe it for he might easily think thus There is more distance in respect of Superiority between God and Man as between Man and Flies Now if they should buz forth in Commendation of us What Glory would it be God is gracious and infinite in Condescention If he doth set his Heart upon Man Job 34. 14. That he doth at all look upon our low and mean Services He is Glorified in all his Works and this with ordering our Conversation aright is the utmost we can do Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompenced to him again Rom. 11. 35. But he hath first given unto us and expects the return of good words to our Maker Only acknowledge and Confess with the mouth what we have received and have Good-will towards him and speak out of Things truly as they are Lord Who would not Praise and magnifie thee Forasmuch as among all the Beings of the World there is none like unto thee thou art the Maker of all and they from thee Thou art worthy O Lord to receive Glory and Honour and Power for thou hast created all things and for thy Pleasure they are and were created Rev. 4. 11. The larger Potsherds of the Earth lifted up with Pride and Vanity do not value nor mind the good Expressions of a Beggar and a mean Person though they believe it to be sincere 'T is their Sin and Weakness to slight their Brother of the same likeness and as much a Man as themselves with all the Priviledge and Advantages of humane Nature But God is not like unto them He that first made doth not forsake the Work of his hands Psal 138. 8. 1 Sam. 12. 22. Isa 44. 21. He is pleased with and hearkens unto the Voice of his Children He who formed them after that manner and for this purpose doth accept the Fruit of our Lips. They that know God and have such raised thoughts of him as his visible Works do set forth are apt to doubt that he who is so much above and greater then mankind should at all mind them they being little and below his Cognizance But Scripture doth most evidently satisfie to the contrary There is the very Image of the Godhead upon our selves and a Capacity to know and Worship him all which give perfect assurance
that we are related and the Objects of his Concern That 〈◊〉 doth and will punish the World for their Evil and the wicked for their iniquity Isa 13. 11. is manifested when his wrath is kindled a little for sometimes Punishment doth begin to seize on the ungodly Sinner even before he goes to receive the full recompence of his doings By that abundant Misery which is every where he doth let all the Earth know that he hath indignation against Sin and this the place thereof Again on the other hand By seeing the felicity of his Chosen by that little taste of Happiness he gives unto his dutiful Children He doth thereby assure that he designs to bring them unto greater to encourage here and reward hereafter Their affliction and trouble doth manifest the Sin even these have They are chastened of the Lord that they should not be Condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. That liberal Provision and plenty the Evil and unthankful have is for Tryal or Retribution for even these do some little good So that a Man shall say Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58. 11. The Lord looketh from Heaven He beholdeth all the Sons of Men from the place of his Habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth their Hearts alike he considereth all their VVorks Psal 33. 13 14 15. God doth care for us and we have to do with him Heb. 4. 13. notwithstanding his infinite Greatness for he hath been pleased to admit thereof The VVord Prayer and Praise do keep up this astonishing intercourse They expel the former Hatred Aversation and Strangeness Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. But they may when they are Acquaint now thy self with him and be at Peace Job 22. 21. Abraham was called the Friend of God Jam. 2. 23. Many like sayings the Holy Ghost makes use of as may create Humble Boldness and love to him There is nothing affrightful in him to good Men but perfect love casts out Fear 1 John 4. 8. When this once begins to be established and rooted it is no harshness to make mention of his name then to talk and think of him must be exceeding delightful The very reason why natural and disobedient people cannot endure to hear or speak of God is for want of what is here mentioned and they judge of others by themselves But examine your selves is there any torment to speak of what one loves There is such a thing as love of God if themselves would turn from every evil way and come nearâ—â— they might be happy partakers and not only conceive but be sensible thereof It is the whole required of Man to love God with all his Heart all his Soul all his Strength and all his Mind to love him better then any yea all things besides As much as he can and to use sincere endeavours to love him more The first thing to be done before any can come unto that is to hate evil Psal 97. 10. And then we may love the Lord which gives a delicate relish of every duty we owe unto him O how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. 97. My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psal 104. 34. My Mouth shall be satisfied with Marrow and Fatness whilst my tongue praiseth thee with joyful lips Psal 63 5. Praise ye the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is comely Psal 147. 1. But God commendeth his love towards us in that while were yet sinners Of the Sacrament Christ died for us Rom. 5. 8. Now it is just and reasonable that wonderful and gracious works should be had in remembrance To this end our Lord instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood that we may call to mind the one was broken the other shed for us to obtain the forgiveness of our sins This do in remembrance of me Luke 22. 19. Here is a positive command and the refusal is an act of Disobedience It is called by his own name the Communion of the body of Christ and the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Psalmist seems to have intended it in a prophetick Spirit when he said I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Psal 116. 13. So that it may be applyed to this Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward Heb. 2. 2. Again He that despised Moses Law died without Mercy Heb. 10. 28. That Soul which did not receive the Passover was to be cut off from his people And ought not the Marke 12. 6. Son of God himself be as much reverenced in the Commandments he gave us Did he not work for us a greater Salvation then the other did for our Fore-fathers in delivering them from the Land of Aegypt May it not be fearfully expected that those who either contemn or wilfully neglect this divine institution shall not be admitted into that eternal inheritance Christ hath purchased for us And where I am there shall my Servant be John. 12. 26. But he is none who will not do the things Christ saith and commands Let all consider of this and fear and lay hold of opportunity for this duty That of 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. should not keep people away for this is a certain Rule That if one truly repents and discerns the Lords Body that is esteem it more then common Bread and Wine he can never eat or drink unworthily A common and ordinary capacity doth not judge of more then he sees or handles Indeed there are too many especially in Country Towns and Villages that are sunk into gross Ignorance and Darkness as to spiritual things who was in the fault will be judged at the last day There being throughout our Land like Priest like People both backward and unwilling the one to give the other to receive instruction Yet any one that is a Man and reasonable Creature otherwise he could not do the common business of life may conceive thus much that God is who made the World and all things therein The Bible is his Word and whatsoever is written therein is most true and certain When this is heard or read sincerely it will by degrees let in more Light into his Soul Especially if he goes to the place where it is Preached and Expounded He may come to understand the sence and meaning for the Scripture in necessary things is very plain and then to conceive thereof in his mind There he may learn that under the old Law God instituted many Ceremonies and required the punctual observation of them and though the beggarly Elements and carnal Ordinances are done away for they were Types of Christ our Passover who is now risen yet since his supper is ordained to be kept in
meer outward and feigned submission If all things were done only according to direction in Scripture if there was sound Preaching which maketh not ashamed we should see other effects of it even in this degeneracy and corruption of Times Notwithstanding the conceit of Humane * Isa 29. 14. Wisdom in opposition to the Divine yet those ways which are only of Gods ordaining are much better for carrying on his Work and Glory then the pretended helps Man fancies of his own invention Those who are concerned herewith may know what they have to do and remember that Judgment Seat of Christ they must appear before they are going out of the World as their predecessors already are O that Religion which hath been so long declining might flourish once again Ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth Isa 62. 6 7. That the Church Militant on Earth might be more Pure Universal Bright and excellent towards the consummation thereof for now it comes near to be Triumphant in Heaven We have the Grace and Word of God which are sufficient to accomplish it and it is left to us whether we will do thereafter as we might if we would Every one may sincerely strive for his part and to the utmost and then the whole will be done As it may by reducing the Ordinances of God to their right use purging out the Old leaven and taking away that corruption which hath been so long in them In our good undertakings God shall bless us and all the ends of the Earth shall sear him Psal 67. 7. By the help given and that is further offered us by the way shewed we might do great things if we would shake off unwillingness and Sloth Then labour and be diligent and the Blessed Work would begin Things may be brought to such a pass that all shall know the Lord from the least of them unto the greatest of them Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8. 11. They may come to discern what is pleasing unto him and do thereafter that it may be well with them and their Children for ever Cry aloud spare not lift up thy Voice like a Trumpet and shew my people their Transgression and the House of Jacob their Sins Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my Ways as a Nation that did Righteousness and forsook not the Ordinance of their God they ask of me the Ordinances of Justice they take delight in approaching to God Isa 58. 1 2. Even at this time they go by Multitudes unto the House of God and are constant to hear his Will they are inquisitive after it and make a shew to observe it and as if they had not departed from that established order of things he hath set up There is as much Profession and Devotion in the World as ever But if it is out of a right Principle of glorifying God then they will hearken to any thing which tends to that Nay if it be out of meer selfish saving the Soul and are endued with real Wisdom and they would not be willingly amongst those many who will seek to enter in at the straight Gate and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. Then I say themselves would be gladly informed if there may be any mistake or deceit in this matter in those times of general backâ—sliding and revolt from God he speaks of by his Servants the Prophets there was as much of his visible and outward Worship as in these days They did cry out The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord Jer. 7. 4. and did frequent it as now people are zealous to go to Church or such a Congregation But that stubbornness and disobedience in the heart their sinning which they would excuse and make atonement for by this way did justly make God angry and to abominate their Hypocrisie When the outward duties as it is with some do make up the whole of their Religion Who know not or do not practice any thing more then going to Church hearing Sermons using Prayer receiving the Sacrament all this is but vain and will signifie nothing for these are means of Grace and in order to something more Now it would be strange though common with many to be hearers of the VVord and not doers of it deceiving their own selves Jam. 1. 22. So is Praying to comply with Gods Will and yet not endeavouring to do so or to Remember the Covenant in Baptism and yet not observe it or only with slight purposes and resolution at that present time when the words thereof are to Obediently keep Gods Holy VVill and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of our Life It is mocking and dissimulation with God if they do not sincerely labour after what they seem unto him with their lips and outward gesture to desire Indeed the Ordinances are part of the Commandments of God we use them out of Obedience and Homage unto him He commands to hear his Will to call on Him and to receive his Sacraments but then there is a further reason of all to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. It can hardly be expressed how averse our Nature is God and the things of his Kingdom how hard it is to cleave unto him as he requires and how easie it is to fall away and start aside Only take heed to thy self and keep thy Soul diligently lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen Take heed unto your selves lest ye forget the Covenant of the Lord your God Deut. 4. 9. 23. The outward duties put in mind of this and are to be retained all the days of our life for whilst we are here in the body Temptations from without and Corruption from within would betray us into sin and forgetfulness unless prevented by that Grace which is conveyed through these means Our goodness would be as the morning Dew or as an early Cloud so soon passeth it away we should soon become Barren and Unfruitful unless God was pleased to instil more daily through his Word and Ordinances My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain My Speech shall distill as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the Showers upon the Grass Deut. 32. 2. Otherwise the manifold Sollicitations and Objects of this World would be apt to scorch and make us fade even in our good Ways but that received in renders the Vineyard meet for our God. If his Word falls upon the dust of the VVilderness or Stony and dry places it may seem lost and ineffectual not for want of Worth and Excellency in it self for it is the same Rain there but the incapacity is in the subject which doth not profit because it is not mixed with Faith in them that hear it or they suffer it to run off again as useless Water But if it takes Root there succeed those accomplishments of the inward Man
still act pursuant to it This suggests not to labour in vain not lightly to endeavour but surely to get the thing we aim at when it may be certainly had by giving all diligence to make our Calling and Election sure He that goes but half way will no more come to his Journeys end then he who doth not move one step towards it when he hath gone so far Reason prompts to go on throughly because there is so much behind and a little more will set him at the desired end What did induce to begin doth urge to press forwards still and to use those further helps which are necessary towards it He is an unthinking Fool who is regardless of his own Happiness or Misery especially when a slight appearance of the first and not enduring to be interrupted makes him willing to be thus but as he loves his own pleasure or ease let him endeavour to preserve it still by taking care against this shall fail what will be hereafter Every Soul must go into Heaven or Hell there is no avoiding of it We are invited to the first with Intreaties Solicitations gracious Methods and all good ways God would have all Men to be saved so there is a willingness in them to be saved likewise But the difference is He would have it only in the way of Obedience and Holiness they are for any other then that or not going or not continuing therein so much as they should Now when it is taking care for themselves or a fear of the Wrath to come they imagine less will preserve from that an indifferent outward Conversation and not open Ungodliness or abstinence from such scandalous Sins will set them safe as to all But had they a true love for God they would think nothing they could do too much for him The other thoughts will be quieted by Deceits and false Presumption But further when a Man sees a good set before him to be had at such a time there he goes on contentedly with such a course of action and endeavour as he knows before-hand is necessary to obtain it Neither is he impatient if not had sooner for he knew before it would not be until then The recompence of reward is much more valuable then all those little ends Men propose to themselves here and will abundantly answer for all seeming disadvantages it hath over present things But it is reserved in another World we must in a short time go out of this and in the mean while use those means which God who hath promised it in his Word hath there taught as necessary to be partaker of it What our Saviour advises of a King making War so we may consider of the terms on which we are to enter into Gods Service only Grace here and Glory hereafter necessary accommodations for our Pilgrimage but the true rest to come of which we have this assurance we must depart from this we are now in and he is as good as his word in what things he promised as to the present And therefore we may trust further on However if he should suffer us to continue in the dust of the Earâ—â— it is but what we were before we can lose nothing we have his Word that he will not leave us there but raise us up again and reward us Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psal 107. 43. They shall see the Justice and Equity of his proceedings in that they shall certainly have what he hath promised only it belongeth to them to be meet partakers thereof The sure way to obtain is to have Faith in God and to love him with all our Heart Never any perished that had these Moses indeed came on Mount Pisgah he saw an earthly Canaan and never came into it but now is in a much beâ—ter viz. the Heavenly Men may be and are disappointed in their pursuits after earthly things though they used diligence and wisdom and were ready to lay hold on them but none that doth so as to Heaven who hath the Hope which enters within the Vail and such a 〈◊〉 thereof as to overlook present things who takes up this firm resolution for that will I labour and care all the days of my Life he shall not miss thereof Be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the Work of the Lord forasmuch as you know your Labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. Willingness to be happy self-preservation and knowing the time to come will be as much present as what now is these set forward but then godly Discretion and the Wisdom from above make a perfect and a blessed Work to be such as to entitle to the promises to strive earnestly the first points at the good this puts in a certain way of having it It is one prejudice against Religion that Men may do much therein and yet all do not come to Heaven that propose this to themselves It is most certain that without Obedience to God there is no Salvation to be had For the Nation and Kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish Isa 60. 12. which is true as to every particular Soul. And though several bear Fruit for a season and go aside others continue longer in a blind course of partial Obedience and yet miscarry for all this is their want of consideration of what God doth sufficiently fore-warn them in his Word as Mat. 5. 20. and in other places They might do more if they would They might obey and follow the direction of Scriptures but some are for seeking Salvation any where else would work it out of their own wiâ— and fancies Surely it is convenient to stand beholden unto him for that which himself promises and shews the way and is the only Author of If the Man would please and get the favour of God it is requisite he should hearken and attend unto what is his Mind and Will. If he would not be mistaken in the only way to Happiness it is reasonable he should give up himself to this guide of the Lord. The Wisdom of the prudeâ—â— is to understand his way but the Folly of Fools is deceit Prov. 14. 8. There have many perished through the subtlety of Satan and the deceitfulness of their own Hearts through their wilfulness and inconsideratiou not suffering themselves to be instructed aright or they will not seek out true Information as all wise Men are very careful to do in their Titles to their Estate or making sure of any temporal good And they would do the very same in reference to the eternal if they did throughly exeâ—cise that Wisdom God hath given them which dictates to make use of his Grace and Means his Word and Truth In all those Fancies Excuses and Deceits which beguil so many if they would give their thoughts full scope something would come in to deâ—ect the falshood of them but they greedily take up with the
that he is not tormented at the apprehension of them In this he is more safe and happy then those heedless ones who are afraid to suffer the thoughts of them in their mind but blindly go on and expose themselves to the full danger The Promises of God here are with exception of the Cross to comfort and make able to bear it to carry us through this imperfect and miserable condition but those to come are absolute and gracious of enjoyment of all Good and freedom from all Evil. Even these which seem harsh dispensations of Providence work together for our good and so come to pass as are spoken of or may be learned out of the Word As to those future rewards and punishments The Kingdom prepared for us and the Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels We may perceive him even now subtilly insinuating himself into the Hearts of Men seeking all ways and means to keep and turn people from God and that which is good to hinder them from his favour and Heaven appointed for us The Tempter and Abaddon doth try to hurt and destroy he is the Author of all evil in the World. If we are afraid we shall fall by his hands it is only our own sault for we are called upon to come under the Protection of our God who hath given his Word and Truth to discover all the Falshood and Deceits of the Enemy and then they may be easily avoided The most valuable things in the World are least regarded How doth Wisdom expostulate Prov. 1. And though it happens so with her before Men yet all she saith there is true and especially at the conclusion of the Chapter Whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil The reason why she is slighted is because they refuse to hear her voice They put it off with Scorning and hating of Knowledge But if they would attend to her Words the whole World would go after her as much at she is contemned now And this would be true of the Power of Godliness as it is now of the Form thereof Which indeed hath the vogue and esteem but the other lies under despising and reproach These are the Refuges that ignorant and mistaken Souls betake themselves unto for it is reasonable to use the same diligence after the good things to come as themselves seek earnestly after present and fading Delights and to secure our selves against the Punishment threatned which is just begun here and â—â—lly to be manifested hereafter as themselves are so over-careful and solicitous to avoid present and little inconveniencies It is easie for some to asperse what they do not understand and others thus cunningly seek to hide their own falshood and error Reflections come in to supply the defect of Reason on their side and through the wicked Pride as slight of Men they would seem to pass it by as weak which indeed is too strong for them to get over and answer The highest Wisdom even the Wisdom of God may be ridiculed but when it is only so it is a certain sign that it cannot be resisted The greatest Truth may be depraved and reviled but when it is only so that is firm and unanswerable And further those do always decline from it By Reason of whom the way of Truth is evil spoken which shew the general sence of mankind that they approve of this as excellent for they find fault when those persons who seem Religious do not live accordingly Even Hypocrites tend to the glory of our Religion as appears to him who examines throughly But God is outwardly dishonoured by them Either when themselves do not believe what they profess and then what lieth in them they turn the Truth of God into a Lie. Or they surmise before the World that the thing is impracticable and so render him liable to the imputation of an hard Master and that his Commandments are grievous which is abominably false Or when the Doctrines of God are judged of through the practices of Men then indeed those which are Holy and Good may seem to be Abominable and Evil whereas they do not keep close or pervert and turn them through their evil nature When they who shall confess with their Mouth that God is only wise and so is his Law but yet not observe or transgress it out of a pretence to Wisdom and Discretion Do not these contradict that in their deeds And for this cause God may be evil thought of by Strangers and that his Sanctions are not so wisely contrived for our living in this World. The temporizing accomodating Humour those cunning ways of avoiding present inconvenience or saving themselves from loss and danger those compliances and actings contrary to Conscience and Duty towards God all these pass current with some for excellent prudential Rules any Law or Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding Indeed the Commandments of our God are with great Wisdom ordered to try our Love and Obedience unto him but not so much for present ease and security in the World. It is called the Doctrine of the Cross Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3. 12. Neither let any pretended wise Christians who call themselves so stave it off as long as they can and when the methods of their own Wisdom are run out or they are confounded and baffled then only apply this to themselves But whosoever even in these days will strictly and universally observe his Laws and Directions who is fully resolved to keep a good Conscience in all things shall endure Persecution or Reproach and other Worldly losses or inconveniences And yet all this a strange Paradox is very reconcileable with true Wisdom for what can be more reasonable then to submit to a little Evil in order to a greater Good to suffer Loss for Gain and Advantage to willingly undergo an Inconvenience to obtain a greater Benefit this is the same what is practised every day Now Christians do believe the Gospel to be true and then what our Lord saith may be relied on There is Mark 10. 29 30. no Man that hath forsaken Father or Mother Houses or Lands for my sake but shall receive eternal Life That God who will reward us for the least act of Obedience even to a Cup of cold Water will also take notice of whatever Trouble or Loss we endure purely for his sake We may trust him as to that If this be foolishness we will be accounted so and wait till it is manifested to be the highest Wisdom The promises for Suffering and Loss are so full and many that one may more safely venture on this bottom to be returned into the other World as daily Wise Men do to remote Countries when Ship-wrack Casualty their own Death frequently hinder themselves from being partakers of what they certainly parted withall Whosoever doth not only say so but really believeth on God hath more assurance from
him whom it is impossible to lie His good things promised and reserved are altogether as worthy to be depended on And though they surmise the return may be long however it is short before and certain that we go hence and we will trust our God for what may be hereafter But what if it should be said that as to this present time we are no losers All things are desired for Contentment and present Happiness again we abhor and are afraid upon the account of Evil and Misery Now if God doth continue this still without so much of those outward means if he only permits the superfluities to be taken away but instead of them gives greater Peace and Satisfaction then they would yield What harm is in all this Those who take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods as some have done are in the same or rather a better condition then those who have kept them for they have not that degree of rejoycing And so he that can finish his Course with Joy Acts 20. 23 24. when Bonds and Afflictions every where abide him is as happy as those at full Liberty for they do not so Indeed all the inconveniences of this Life are little but when they are willingly submitted unto out of Conscience towards God he sanctifies and sweetens them unto us and we are contented as if we had them not all It is small whatever we can do to testifie our Love and Obedience unto God the utmost is to part with Life for his sake when it is taken away by Wicked Men God is pleased to try many of his Servants thus far to see what they will endure for him and to let the wickedness of Men go on that he may behold what they will do against him Let none object foolishness to the Sufferers For in their falling they stay on him who gave them and all Mankind Life and Breath What can be more reasonable then to Sacrifice that up unto him which he lent them at first to Glorifie God by their Death when he will raise them up again and reward them In all Christian Sufferings it is to turn gainer for the other World the more thou shalt endure the more thou shalt be Crowned it is a laying in a Foundation against the time to come and if I may so speak a putting Isa 61. 7. in for a greater share of Glory The more thou art despised and abhorred by Men the more thou shalt be had in honour for cruel Mockings and Scourgings there will be Commendations and those shall be healed and done away for being Destitute Afflicted Tormented will succeed greater degrees of the contrary Happiness I do not admire that those Primitive and Blessed Souls when they were lodged in the Body as we are now and beset with the same Temptations and of like passions yet did so desire Martyrdom and seek after Suffering even so far that they did run to a pious extream of well-meaning forwardness We again decline it as much their Faith was more lively but we that do stand in the latter days on the earth find that decay thereof our Lord foretold which makes Men willing to shift it off by lawful or unlawful means and when all these fail then only they are for turning Martyrs and Suffering for Christ It is a good expedient to begin by little and little and try first whether we can hold a Finger in the Flame before we expose the whole Body to the Fire Whether we can endure a little Reproach Loss to be forsaken and other trifling Inconveniencies before we come to the greater Afflictions of the Gospel The least have their reward If this be absurd and simple Doctrine it must be only so with Unbelievers Let a Plutarch or Epictetus who did see no further then this present time who might talk but did not know of more then the conveniency of this Life deliver that prudent Aphorism ' He that accomedates himself to the present affairs is Wise But we have not so lâ—â—ned Christ Eph. 4. 20. Indeed he hath taught us to flee from Persecution to avoid it by speed but we are to decline it by nothing which in the least tends to the dishonour of Him and his Religion by nothing that betwrayes Unbelief or Distrust or is any ways contrary to the Doctrine he gave us He left no Rules of Policy or common esteemed Wisdom for that may prove an occasion to being on sinful compliances and after making a question whether they were so or not see 1 Pet. 4. If any one suffer as a Christian not according to the common nâ—tions thereof but as it is written in the Word of God by living according to the Rules and Directions there And the Man is perswaded so in his mind that which now invites and approves of him for so doing will be his witness hereafter to find acceptance with Almighty God. There is no great danger of being mistaken for the lines of Good and Evil Duty and Sin are so clearly written in the Hearts of all especially of those who arrive to that eminency as to suffer for God's sake that he may perfectly understand them Such a one must for some time have done the Will of God and then we know what is asserted and by whom John 7. 17. for outward Profession or Hypocrisie may go a great way but not to part with worldly Interest or Life it self Whereas sincerity will oblige on still and he that really designs for the Kingdom above will pass through the Tribulation which lies in the way Therefore it is to be presumed he knows it and cannot avoid without going out which he will not do It is truly said The Cause and not the Passion doth make the Martyr yet if he who hath no Pride nor vain-Glory no Sinister impulsive but is acted by the alone Principle of a good Conscience whereof no Man can judge but himself however if he should be deceived as to that seeing it is not out of wilful ignorance for that is far from the Godly without question God will be Merciful and reward his honest meaning to serve and obey him An upright and sincere mind is very acceptable with him I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Now if a Child should do a thing with a good intent to please his Father though he did not require it yet still the good will and intent is accepted the same it is of God towards us Men. If this be not true Divinity we are left at the greatest uncertainty that can be for we are all but Babes and Sucklings to God the highest acts of our Soul are but ignorance before him We cannot be Wise beyond our selves and we take the same manner to please him as our Superiours on Earth And according to this is the whole Scripture his own Revelation to mankind Only let us have a good mind towards God and the Spirit he hath given us is
Prodigality or some other Sin but not by keeping close to Duty And though he may receive some little injuries yet he lives contentedly at present applying the Promise and patiently expects the Reward for doing the Will of God. He need not return Evil for Evil or more injuriously make honest People pay for the harm Knaves have done unto him These are for the most part trivial Instances and our Obedience is to be proved as to them God hath ordained that Man should Labour and he will prosper that to which he intends it Mine Elect shall long enjoy the work of their Hands They shall not labour in Vain nor bring forth for Trouble Isa 65. 23. His word doth as it were stand engaged that such who live according to his Will should be mantained To supply real Wants not unnecessary Lusts And it may be observed of the greater part of mankind who have no certain Dependance nor Estate but the casual income of their Trade or Emploiment from day to day yet still they are provided for some one way or another So there is no need of repining at the great Landlord whose is the Earth and the fulness thereof for not giving an Estate Why he hath given enough for all the Fruits and Cattel Blessed be his goodness are abundantly sufficient to maintain all its Inhabitants But he hath set Limits Bounds and Land-marks that every one might know what was his own And then some by Industry obtained what others through Negligence and Idleness parted withal the World going on in the usual way as it doth now This diversity is suffered by the divine Wisdom for tryal of that particular Vertue now insisted on and of others All cannot have Estates not such as they desire Every one ought to be contented with that condition he is in if he will work with his Hands there is no fear of want Never any is driven so hard as to be forced by necessity to Sin if he will use all lawful means first Then Honesty is so far from being poor and laughed at that those who observe it are generally thriving and have good Reputation but if mean yet attended with that satisfaction of mind which others have not in their abundance If at any time ridiculed it is by knavish Men who seek this way to extenuate their own Guilt for his well-doing brings their Sin to remembrance And truly this is the cause of that Reproach Slander and Contempt cast upon the ways and People of God not that they in any wise deserve it but all good esteem and honour But those who do not live accordingly are privately convicted they are in a fault and therefore seek to discountenance that which they should have done An odd way not to be contented only to offend God by an Omission or Disobedience but to Sin yet more by fastening contempt on his wise Sanctions and to hinder others also Mark the Perfect Man and behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Psal 37. 37. which is more valuable then all the fine Houses or Estates in the World. Seeing it is the enterance upon an Immortal Life it is more then enjoying the greatest Revenue for an Hundred Years But further he hath Peace throughout his Life Herein exercising himself to have a Conscience void of Offence towards God and towards Man he is in favour with both and freed from that Trouble and Vexation which doth always arise when the Duty to our great Creator is neglected or those just Offices between Man and Man. The Lord is Righteous in all his Ways His infinite sovereignty over Creatures is attempered with an excellent goodness His great Power himself hath been pleased to limit by a gracious Word and many other things if we could clearly understand as we shall do manifest him to be exceeding good and Ioving to us Men so we are to do one to another Little Children let no Man deceive you He that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous In this the Children of God are manifest and the Children of the Devil Whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his Brother 1 John 3. 7 10. That no Man go beyond and defraud his Brother in any matter for the Lord is the Avenger of all such 1 Thes 4. 6. Though we do not see him yet he seeth us Though we may think him to be in Heaven at a distance he is there and yet not far from every one of us He stands by and beholds all the doings of the Sons of Men and considereth all their ways He doth see if any one will do justly and live according to the Laws he hath given they may be broken secretly but it is known unto him The hidden things of Dishonesty may a little while remain undiscerned to our sight but not before him who in his appointed time will reveal them openly before the World. All things are now disposed of for this Life of Tryal and Temptation He who is Vnjust may be Vnjust and he that is Righteous may be Righteous still The Threatning and Reward are annexed accordingly With us that are living and for a short time in the way the thing is in suspence And the Work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness Quietness and Assurance for ever Isa 32. 17. CHAP. XV. Of TEMPERANCE In Meat Drink Apparel Recreation Of the passing away of TIME THis puts in mind of our imperfect and wanting Condition that stands in need of so many things from without The God who made us put us in Flesh and in this place who hath ordained such things to nourish and sustain us for a while He could also have kept us in Being and Continuance without them All things are equally possible to an Almighty Power He both frames the means and the end he is free and unlimited to the use of them or can perform whatever he pleases with such means or without any at all Who fed the five Thousand with five Loaves could have caused that they should not have Hungred at all as he did not during the Forty days and Forty nights for He was afterwards an Hungred Mat. 4. 2. Man doth not live by Bread only but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of the Lord doth Man live Deut. 8. 3. We are not to be perfect before our time Even now by the Divine goodness and appointment we are in good Accomodation by the help of those outward things as indeed can be well required for Creatures and the state of Imperfection all this is only for a while in expectation of and in order unto greater things Meats for the Belly and the Belly for Meats but God shall destroy both it and them 1 Cor. 6. 13. Our Feet and Eyes supply that to us as if we were wholly made up of motion and sight they are sufficient for the business we have to do Food and Raiment through Gods
might somewhat understand what he hath here to do All the powers of Soul and Members of Body ure fitâ—ed for Action they crave after it Here is the Right and the Wrong something he must do and if he mistakes to the latter there is Regret and Discontent Even when he is exercised about vain and insignificant things which must be done rather then none at all or if about more material in which there is some but little profit yet still he knows he is not in his proper work The usual scene of Employment lies in Recreations and business of Life the first doth not so much satisfie the mind as the other and this doth it not altogether for there is something further which is so little regarded because wilfully shut out of the mind and through the Craft of the Adversary these are made an occasion to stifle it or to divert so much from it as should be done To speak plainly it is God and Religion To seek after and know him to conform to his whole Will This O Man is what thou hast to do and all other things which come not under here are avocations from the one thing needful Said our Lord and Fore-runner I must work the Work of him that sent me while it is day the night cometh when no Man can work John 9. 4. His was laying the Foundation for all to build on He finished the Work God gave him to do and every Soul is to work out that which he hath wrought and accomplished for us all in this Life which is the accepted time for the darkness draws on in which nothing of this is to be done And therefore if we neglect Wo unto us for the day goeth away for the Shadows of the evening are stretched out Jer. 6. 4. We haste on towards the Period so uncertain is our stay here that the Sun sets while it is Noon-day yea at all times so we are to be as those which wait for the coming of the Bridegroom not knowing when it will be Time was given us that we might prepare for Eternity It seems to point forth the other as also we may know somewhat of our own frame We have immortal Spirits which began to be but shall never end for if we look back upon Eternity that vast space which was before we came into the World we are consounded We that came forth in time cannot imagine that which was from Everlasting but who have assurance of continuing for evermore We can very well conceive what shall be to Everlasting and shall have no end Now Time stands between both these as a little Creek between two Seas And this may be considered in the motion of the Celestial Bodies since they have been Created until they shall be dissolved And then Time is that space during those several Generations come and pass through here as God hath ordained But to bring it more close to our selves it may be taken for that while every particular Man is in the World. One is more to himself then all the World besides and therefore he is not so much concerned with others or the days before and after but whilst himself is here that is his Time. Whilst he is in Life the Springs and Wheels thereof continue in motion so that if the Sun should stand still yet unless the hour-Glass within did cease to run the Garments of Flesh wax old it would be no advantage to Man for the moving of those things within determine his space and not the common measure of Days and Nights Months and Years Since the World began it was never heard that they did stand still with any Man but the Pulse is continually beating towards its last stroke We all do fade as a Leaf Isa 64. 6. When it first springs and buds forth it hastes towards being blown off or withering and so dropping down My times are in thy Hand Psal 31. 15. during the while God shall hold our Souls in life and the Tabernacle remain fit for our Habitation As sure as Time now is so it will be when Time shall be no longer Rev. 10. 6. As Days and Nights pass with us so the duration of Eternity will begin As manifestly as there is something above the Sun which was set in the Firmament to give light upon the Earth Gen. 1. 17. but beyond is an eternal and unchangeable Light. The Darkness is no Darkness with thee the Night and Day are both alike We are to be Translated thither where is no Sun for it hath no need thereof for the Glory of God doth lighten it Rev. 21. 13. so neither to divide the Day from the Night nor for Signs nor for Seasons nor for Years for this is only the manner of these lower Regions of the World. One Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as one Day 2 Pet. 3. 8. There is no respect at all of the numbrings of Time with the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity Isa 57. 15. And so it will be when he shall be pleased to admit â—s there Hast thou courteous Reader a warm and serious Apprehension of this thing When thou art pressed with the tediousness of Time think upon Eternity And then knowest thou not how to make use of the flying Moments before thee Is it nothing to secure unto thy self the Everlasting Mansions no while to be allotted for getting an Happiness which endures unto all Ages Only a spare Minute and the refuse of Time will this serve towards obtaining that to which Millions of Years are but the twinkling of an Eye Will the Antient of days accept of that opportunity of serving him when not detained by vain Company or Pleasures He will not be dallied with by foolish and proud Creatures Heaven and Immortality are for those who strive Luke 13. 24. labour 1 Cor. 15. 58. seek diligently Heb. 11. 6. who make it their constant business throughout their Life Are thy desires a little quickened What wouldst thou do towards the blessed Enjoyment and Possession of them Thou art yet in Time upon the right use and improvement whereof all this doth depend It is commonly consumed either in ill-doing or doing nothing or something besides what is proper to do Separate these three Falsities and the right end will come in of course The first tends directly to Destruction and Misery the second and third to the loss of the Good set before us Wisdom and Experience do sufficiently manifest that they cannot profit for they come to nothing at all The Pleasure or Conveniency of them perish in the using and appear the same as if not had at all Whatever is to come is of the same nature just to be had and vanished away as the formeâ— things and all will come to an end Sin Idleness and Covetousness beguile Men of their precious Time for thus it irrecoverably glides from them without benefit and for all these things God will bring them to
if not then they Perish and are Miserable for ever So much of their Life is already slipt from them Such opportunities have been lost of receiving a greater Reward which are gone irrecoverably in vain and useless things Again he limiteth a certain day saying in David To day after so long a time as it is said To day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 4. 7. Then they are to bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance to grow in Grace and Knowledge to continue in all Obedience and be Watchful that he in no wise offend the iâ—finite God. They may seek out and embrace all occasions of doing Good and be ready to the performance of it Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before Phil. 3. 13 Vnto which Promise our twelve Tribes instantly serving God day and night hope to come Acts 26. 7. The Vanity and Transitoriness of our condition in this World may be somewhat taken of by real and enduring Actions The Sollicitations to Evil may be more easily avoided because they are momentary and sudden Thou O Man art made for greater things Thou art passing towards an Eternal Happiness Have nothing to do with sinful Divertisments Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which war against the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. The Pleasure â—oon after is the same as if never had and iâ— would have hindred in the Good Waâ— Here is the Christian Life this is to make use of the present Time Then you may with Comfort and no Sorrow think how it hasteth away We must unavoidaâ—ly lye down under the Laws of Mortality Whoso doth these things is not troubled about that but though it shall be placed in the Dust still he lifts up his Head that his Redemption draweth nigh Our sâ—lves also which have the first Fruits of the Spirit even we our selves groan within our selves waiting for the Adoption to wit the Râ—demption of our Body Rom. 8. 23. We are not yet come to our Rest nothing here doth truly satisfie but what comes from above the same thing returns over so often that we are even weary of it We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the Body and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 2 Cor. 5. 9. Resolving still to do our Duty Whether God hath more for us to do or to make us more desirous of Him and his Kingdom or to prove us longer or to exercise our Patience after we have done his Will we may be assured he hath wise and good Reasons for our tarrying here a little longer We ought to be quiet and thankful not knowing how soon we may be removed hence our Warfare accomplished and our Sin pardoned The particular Season is not for us to know it being Gods Attribute of seeing things to come as he manifests by so many Disappointments of our own fore-casts We are to keep within our bounâ—s of Creatures to see no further then he hath ordained Not to reckon upon a longer Time of stay then we are certain of which is not one Moment longer then we have and do now live Did we throughly consider by how slender Threads Life is tyed which may be broken from Casualty without or Disorder within but One holds our Soul in Life under whose good Providence we live So we are satisfied but not confident Did we again reflect that he can stir up a Disease from within there is no nâ—ed of pouring down Judgments upon us as he did upon the Cities of the Plain he may suffer such an evil Accident to befall us or to be Consumed in our own Folly we would tremble and fear to do Wickedly against him We should not dare lift up our selves against the Lord of Heaven the God in whose hand our Breath is Dan. 5. 33. It is a vain and foolish Presumption to Sin yet more because he counts of so much Time to live being Young Lusty and Healthful or to be puffed up with present Enjoyments for they shall continue so long But admit God should suffer the Light to burn clear out though he can extinguish it in the mean while whensoever he will yet all will be waâ—ted out If they make these outward things an occasion to forget God or behave themselves contemptuously towards him and he should be pleased to permit thereof What he saith by his Prophet is true The things that I have given them shall pass away from them Jer. 8. 13. The fancied good days will be all vanished and gone as the past have been already That can be no Happiness which hatb an end Nor whatever the Sensual Worldly minded think can there be any in departing from the Lord. We may in general judge thus much of our Time to come in this World by remembring what hath been already with us or happens to others of such years Condition and Circumstances it may be somewhat like with us for there is no great variety in the things of this World we have Seen Heard or Read the like fulfilled in our Brethren As the past hath the present doth the future will pass away in the same manner till the last Hour comes and shuts up all as this doth all the past Time of my Life in which I am Writing this An end will come But this I say Brethren The Time is short it remaineth that both they that have Wives be as though they had none and they that Weep as though they Wept not and they that Rejoyce as though they Rejoyced not and they that Buy as though they Possessed not And they that Vse this World as not Abusing it for the Fashion of this VVorld passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29 30 31. CHAP. XVI Of COURAGE TO bring people out of the wrong and mistaken Apprehension of things to help somewhat towards their Good it will be necessary to explain what Courage is and how it promotes their Happiness Many excellent things have we heard of this Vertue but still as to the particular nature thereof most are ignorant Extolling they know not what they know not wherefore Neither shall the due estimation thereof be lessened so it be justly stated as it is for the security and well-being of Mankind for even this Temptation the Destroyer makes use of to insnare and beguile Souls unto himself They are taken with nothing so much as what looks great To despise Evil and laugh at Fear not to value their own Lives to run on with a certain blindness and hurry towards the land of Darkness Not to regard the worst things that befall the Sons of Men or threaten afar off all this he hath gotten to pass for Courage and Magnanimity in the World. And Thousands deluded with this false Imagination of things come to dye as Fools They did not mind the things that were told them as
Men would suffer a particular Examination out of the Word of God the very Truth and Reason of things Christianity will evidence it self to be greater Courage then what pasleth for it in the judgment of the World. Which is sign of the more resolute Spirit that both fore-sees and considers the Evil and yet subjects it self thereto upon assured and beneficial grounds as did the Martyrs Confessors and godly Sufferers or those who go on with a certain Violence without Knowledge and Consideration as do others Who can lay down their Lives with a deliberate choice retaining their perfect Reason and Sence or those in a sudden Passion and heat of Blood who are pushed on by Malice like a spurred Horse leaping down a Precipice or foolish pride who make themselves half Drunk and then go on not knowing what they do But consider all the circumstances of the Christians Actings and Sufferings and his Courage will be found more Real and Fminent Through God he doth Valiantly Psal 60. 12. Whose Grace is sufficient and inspires him with an Heart to overcome all difficulty and danger Now that according to the World if strictly surveyed will be reduced very low for abstract that Disposition of Children and Mad-men who are not sensible of the danger and therefore dare rush upon any thing If they be neither Fools nor Blind as not to know nor see any thing If their Souls be not rendred Earthy through Sensuality and so fear not If they are not quite stupified when the Heart is become like the nether Milstone which doth not tremble because it hath no sence If they have no need of Wine nor strong Liquors to support If all Disguise and Hypocrisie could be discovered and their concealed Fears seen when big words make a shew of the contrary and are used as an Artifice to hide them Take away from them all Gutward Advantages and Helps and they will be as other Men keep them from the opium of continual and immoderate Eating let them renounce the assistance of strong Drink observing only the just rules of Temperance And then see whether their Courage will not grow faint and languish Were that predominant thing of Pride rooted out which makes them endeavour to stifle their Fears Then they would be brought back to the common nature of Mankind which they would lift up themselves above by the aid of the aforesaid things We see evidently when these fail they are the same as others As in Sickness or in a sober approach of Death but more certainly when their Souls are stript naked and sent into the other World no mention is made of their Courage in that place And the mighty Mens Hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the Heart of a Woman in her Pangs Jer. 48. 41. Men are generally the same There may be some little degrees of Difference yet they are all but Flesh still The Lord is the Maker of them all He hath not made some to be Men and some to be Gods some with Fear and some without but this Plant is implanted into all And ordered so that it may be improved or abused corrected or prevaricated besitting this Life of Tryal But the Wicked strive against God they would expel that out which he hath placed in which they cannot but do as faâ— as lieth in them for what they cannot utterly extinguish they endeavour to hide and stifle Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread Isa 8. 13. and to this end all Fear was put into Men But if they do not fear him this is not their Courage but Ignorance and Forgetfulness of whom they see not And then for their making a shew not to value Death No more do Sheep going to the Slaughter for these Men just know they shall die yet mind no more what shall become of them afterwards then those dumb Creatures passing on the Road do think of what we know shall befall them Can those Reasonable Souls indeed rush into the other World who cannot hear a true report thereof in an aiery sound Can they indeed step forth upon the dark Mountains who cannot see a Map thereof in Paper and Ink They foolishly build up their Confidences and in common Vogue would pass for Men of Valour because they can slight and contemn Religion But stand to it for you are Challenged into the Field and see whether you do not betray Cowardice herein What if it should be said You that can hear Drums and Trumpets the roaring of Canons yet the voice of God you cannot endure to hear which is full of Majesty and shaketh your Hearts When he Thundreth in the Air it will make them quiet and still but when he speaketh from Heaven when he sendeth his Waters through a Pipe or gives life to a Psal 8. 2. dead Letter this you have not Courage enough to receive or read You set at naught and despise his Ordinances when they are not rightly managed You can smile at the flat and insipid discourses of Ignorant and Unfaithful Teachers but not at those who both understand and do as they should You that will not be out-Hectored yet ye are frightened with Words a sure proof that they are not vain but both true and significative You that do not value Sword nor Spears yet dare not contest with the Rod of his Mouth Isa 11. 4. What is lighter then that but when God is pleased to use the meanest thing it can make the stoutest Oak of Bashan tremble like the Leaves of the Forrest Gather your selves O ye Mighty and try to shew your Courage which if you can you also will for the great Importance and Necessity will press you forward if you have so much power to get over all this Can you sit for a while and tremble under Gods Word Will you admit of a second hearing and not be frightened with Felix to put it off to a more convenient season Are you able to stand before him who Fights with the Sword of his Mouth who Wounds that he may Heal who Condemns that he may Justifie who as the Prophet speaks Slays the Wicked casting them down that they do not come again but for those who are not so fearful to run away as Christ would have none to be so he will not shew himself always thus terrible to them Stand but the first Shock and then you are Men. It is only in order to bring you unto Conviction to be Humbled under the mighty Hand of God and then this Dreadfulness will go off that you may serve him with Reverence and godly Fear 'T is Pusillanimity and a more exceeding Fearfulness that keeps Men off even in those who would be thought to have the contrary for could they attend to the Word of Exhortation bear for a while a little Irksomeness and Sorrow Had they Resolution to do some things contrary to corrupt nature and undergo a little hardship in the Service
a clod of Clay All those great fancies as to his Esteem and Advantages in the World do utterly vanish and come to nothing as soon as his Spirit is gone out and flies into that place where no regard is had to what is highly valued here The utmost of Pride is contained in this Life and the things had therein which we see with our Eyes do certainly perish and stand the owners in no stead We are further told by God who sent us here for tâ—yal who knows all things and how it shall be hereafter that this way leads to Contempt and Falling when what is spoken of as past according to the Prophetick Stile which is as true as if already fulfilled He hath put down the Mighty from their Seats and exalted them of low Degree Luke 1. 52. Those who are Great in this World shall be little in the World to come and the little great which will be so as to Wicked and Ungodly persons and those of mean Condition who continue in all Obedience Even those of high Degree who live in good Conscience and Duty yet the more Acts of Humility and Condescention they use it will be much better for them Wherefore Humble your selves O ye Mighty for this is the way to preserve what you have and attain greater Advancement A mean person cannot bow down he cannot stoop beneath what he is already his way of Exaltation is by continuing where he is having Thoughts only sutable and not above his Condition You are by God placed higher that you may voluntarily come down still keep the difference you have in the World do as the rest of your Brethren and hereafter be put into a Seat among the Blessed when all shall be Perfect Disdain and Envy shall cease It is manifest worldly Pride cannot do any good nor that which creeps into Religion also I mean of those who would save their Souls in a gentile way who are for the modish manner of Worship and Devotion performing it in a stiff careless and indifferent way who put a difference in Congregations freqâ—enting those where people of Quality do resort and for having Pastors accordingly who love the uppermost Seats in the Synagogue You would be Great and Honoured still then consider seriously whether indeed this is the way to be so Did our Fathers please God after this manner Is there any intimation in his Word that it is acceptable in his sight Is it not an Abomination as the effect of Pride Prov. 16. 5. Who say to the Poor stand by your selves come not near us for we are more Rich and Honourable then you If such Thoughts are in the breast of any God knoweth them and putteth these things in his Book of Remembrance and they shall be brought forth one day when he shall make a right difference among his People You had better take this Counsel which you will not disapprove of in a day of Humiliation Sickness Death Bed or as soon as ever you are stept forth into the other World but only to be observed in your life time As our Lord dwelt among us in the Habit of a poor ordinary Person yet had his Grave with the Rich so you who have your Habitation and Living with them may follow him in the Generation and serve him in the same manner as poor people do To whom he saith the Gospel is Preached Come over to the Plainness and Simplicity thereof follow the Fashion only in lawful things but let it have nothing to do with Religion for God doth not so well like the Course of this World that being either opposite unto or would corrupt the things pertaining to him If you take heed to all this you will be no loser in the end but greater then those who are resolved to hold fast in their wonted way whatever may be said to the contrary It is Vain to offer any thing to persons that are under the Dominion of â—ride for this makes them despise Exhortation and â—nstruction to set themselves above to cast off and not mind it This is one cunning Stratagem of the Devil for thus he prevails with them not to receive the Truth that they might be saved He represents such as mean persons and busie Bodies in other Mens matters whom God hath raised up as Instruments to convey it unto them Their despising is against him for we do not speak out of our own Humour Fancy or any prejudice but from his Word only We know and are assured that it is true and every tittle shall be fulfilled And then it must be reasonable to put all in mind to take heed and order their Actions accordingly When it is suggested in a common matter such a thing cannot possibly profit but is likely to do more harm then good there is no Frown or secret Indignation but Thanks for the Admonition Why should it not be so likewise in Spiritual things Because there is a subtle Adversary who would have such things done and consented unto and stirs up a close Antipathy and Hatred against them who would disswade from False and Deceitful appearances You would fain be Great Who hinders but let it be only in that way God hath shewed Be contented for a little while and wait what he will do for you We bâ—leech you to forego those things which are only shadows of Greatness which evidently decline and vanish and hinder from obtaining the â—bstance thereof which you are most earnestly desired to make sure of above all things He that is least in the Kingâ—omoâ— Heaven is greater then he who hath the Pomp and â—lory of this World the one doth as much exceed the other in Degree and Continuance as the Sun doth the light of a Spark which ascends up a little height expires and is nothing so whatever is Speâ—ious and Beautiful here if for some Years it is not so much in comparison to the Glories of Heaven and Eternity What a fool must he be who doth lose the greater for the less Is he not mistaken and deceived who whâ—lst he seeks to be Exalted becomes low who is desirous to be Great but is â—ound little Shall we call up the careless Nobility and Gentry of former days who lived and died in their Imaginations let these Gods ascend out of the Earth even all those of several Generations and Countries heretofore Hell hath eâ—largâ—aher self and opened her Mâ—uâ—h without measure and their Glory and their Multitude and thâ—â— Pomâ— and he that Rejoyceth shall descâ—nd into it Isa 5. 14. Their Souls even now are sensible what their Earthly Grandure amounts unto just nothing at all but when the day of God's Judgment and their own Reâ—â—rrection is come they shall further know what it is they lose and are to suffer for the same This stands for a warning to all those who are now Living and shall be Born not to fill up the Measure of their Fathers but so to use their Greatness as not to abuse it
Eye yet do not sufficient to obtain it for the Promises and Comfort of God are to those who love him as these do not through Ignorance of his ways They stand at the door of his Sanctuary but do not come in They are arrived at the entrance of Religion but stop there when they should come into the inner Courts of the Lords House from Deut. 4. 29 30 31. It appears that God accepts of such a beginning if it goes on and hath its perfect work as there described but this sort is commonly feigned according to what is written Psal 78. 34 35 36 37. They run unto God as to a Shelter in a Storm from which they go again when that is over He knows the very secrets of the Heart and will not be imposed upon by Hypocrisie and Baseness But they should have considered that as he is then even in their opinion to be sought unto for Stay and Relief so he is worthy to be trusted unto at all times and then fully resolved to have taken him for the God of their Help from that day for evermore this had been well pleasing in his sight Lord What Aversness is in our Nature to come unto thee And yet whither should we go but unto thee We are not sufficient of our selves thou art the Author of all Good and a sure Refuge against Evil Yet we are at a stand and unwilling to come when thou callest Thou hast made us weak and frail that we should seek Help of one that is Mighty and trust in thee Thou sendest the Stormy Wind and Tempest which do near beat us down that we may know The Eternal God is our Refuge and underneath are the Everlasting Arms Deut. 33. 27. Thou hast put a vanity and insufficiency into things that all which is to be had in this World cannot establish a sure Trust whereon Man may certainly depend Our fellow Creatures will not but in the greatest exigencies they cannot help The best things here are unable others are deceitful all of them put together cannot give Aid they may stupifie for a little time but cannot preserve the Breath from going forth What must we lie and sink under these Evils surely we have been told and him we should think of first There is one above who both will and also can deliver to the utmost all that come and seek after him I will lift up mine Eyes to the Hills from whence cometh my Help My Help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Psal 121. 1 2. And therefore can dispose every least thing to our Advantage or take away the Evil that oppresseth us and rescue from the Jaws of the Grave and at last in him though we die we shall live again In what a wretched condition is that Man in the day of Distress and Death who hath held fast to the World till it can give no longer Relief when the Arm of Flesh is withered and its poor helps fail They have turned their Back unto me and not their Face but in the time of their Trouble they will say Arise and save us But where are thy Gods that thou hast made thee let them arise if they can save thee in the time of thy Trouble Jer 2. 27 28. Where are thy Riches Pleasure and Company that thou hast relied on let them preserve thee Consider this ye that forget God in your Health and Prosperity He hates your putting away the thoughts of him at that time when you stand off it is then he spoils your Mirth 'T is nothing but your own Sins and Transgressions which occasion that Enmity and slavish Fear of him which would also cease when the cause is taken away In the evil day you might be safe under his Feathers In the time of Wealth there is nothing affrightful or disagreeable to those who would live in Sence of and thankfulness under him for this would make Enjoyments yet more excellent O how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thâ—e which thou hast wrought for them that Trust in thee before the Sons of Men Psal 31. 19. How many ways hath ouâ— Gracious God found out when all we like loâ—t Sheep have gone astray to bring us back agaâ—n Even those which seem â—o the carnal and inconsiderate more harsh and severe Dispensations of Providence are to this blessed end In Mercy thou dost Afflict them out of pure Love and Compassion to their Souls It is a sad Prospect to see the Tents of Cushan in Affliction Hab. 3. 7. to behold the Dwellings of the Sons of Men in so much Sorrow Grief Pain and Sickness as if the Curse of Joâ—b was entailed on all Families throughout the whole Earth And there is not an House but there is one that hath an â—ssue or that is a Leapeâ— or that leaneth upon a Stâ—ff or that falleth on a Sword or that lacketh Bread 2 Sam. 3. 29. or hath some other â—vil of equal kind Surely there is a good God above all his Creatures and how then can these things be If at any time hard thoughts do arise it is our Ignorance and want of a through Consideration out of his Word Besides what is afore mentioned We do not lay to Heart our own Provocation that Deluge of Sin and Ungodliness which hath covered the face of all Nations but his Grace and Revelation would put a stop unto it if effectually used and put forth Some Evils are sent for Punishment to frighten and disswade people from the like things Then the spot and â—allings of his own People are to be chastened here and their Graces exercised see Deut. 8. 15 16. Zâ—ch 13. 9. And further Satan is suffered some Reasons whereof we know others are secret but we judge of the equity of them by what are manifested to walk up and down in an invisible manner being permitted to Afflict the Body and Estate all one as to tempt the Soul. And then from John 9. 3. 1. Sam. 2. 6 7. it may be gathered that God to shew his Glory Power and Sovereignty maâ— do what he will with his own As Lord of Life he taketh away one and leaveth another in his own order but not to us discernable because no respect is had to Age the good or ill of the person that one lives longer then another He sends Sickness to this Man when another is well to some it proves Mortal and not to others Some have more and others less of the Distribution of the good things of the Earth without the better or worse deserving of the Parties Things now seem uneven but in the Sanctuary and out of the Lords Book all may be understood He is Good and Merciful still He is our Maker and our Father from whence we are to be considered as Creatures and then in a nearer Relation of Sons and Daughters 2 Cor. 6. 18. 2 Cor. 7. 1. to which last the great future Promises do relate Righteous art
satisfaction concerning that great doubt of Futurity There is a way shewed by patient continuance in well doing which any one may that will comply with and put forth the Principles of Good in him to partake of the blessed Immortality Rom. 4. 20. If it were not to derogate from Faith by which God is Glorified I could lay down how our Religion relies upon the greatest certainty that possibly can be for the Happiness and Safety of Mankind So where Philosophy was at a loss this helps and gives firm establishment to the Man as it shews unto him how his Condition shall be after Death according as he orders his Conversaâ—ion now It may be said he need not trouble himself with things afar of yet they may be nearer then he is aware even to Morrow The time after he is gone out of the World is manifestly Ionger then whilst he is in and will as certainly be so he is equally obliged to be concerned about it It is a sad case when one must be forced to borrow Comfort from the other World for then commonly none is to be had in this whereof we are most assured because we are herein but the other is to come and of doubtful Expectation Shew us some Relief here Such are the suggestions of Unbelief which yet may be answered by Sence and by Reason for our Fyes behold other parts of the World then what we are in now â—â—e Spirit from within testifies that we are not here in our prâ—per place Experience assures we must depart hence in a very little time The natural Understanding leads up to the Knowledge of God who made and governs all things We can well suppose that he who gave a Being and so many Conveniencies for one part of us can also provide for the other As he is the Father of Mcrcies so the God of all Consolation we taste and see them so we may perceive this also The nourishment of the Body according to his appointed means springs from the Earth whence it was taken so likewise doth the true Comfort of the Soul according to its Original come from above the Father the Word and the Spirit There is nothing below sutable to this Spiritual and Restless part of us lf we had Comfort only in the things of this World we were of all Creatures must Miserable for they Psal 145. 16 19. have what satiâ—fies from what is before them but not we being designed to Thirst and Labour after greater things A Voice was heard in Rama Lamentation and bitter Weeping Rachel Weeping for her Children refused to be Comforted for her Children because they were not Jer. 31. 15. So it is all the World over people are irrecoverably deprived of persons and things Nothing can countervail the loss of them but hope of having and meeting them again for which we are beholden unto a Resurrection and another State. It is manifest they are not had here again and we are tormented with earnest longings after them and have real thoughts of seeing them yet again which were never put in our nature in Vain Thus Man dieth not as a Beast dieth for there are no such affections from the Dam or others of the Herd as we have concerning Relations Friends and Acquaintance Saith the Messias our Lord These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the World ye shall have Tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the World John 16. 33. If the Heavens were not sometimes opened and a little dew did descend from above If we had not sometimes little sprinklings of the Divine Favour If we had not recourse to that Book where the words are pleasant as an Honey-Comb Sweet to the Soul and Health to the Bones Prov. 16. 24. We should have a weary and tiresome Journey through this place for here is no rest and nothing proper for us How prophetically do Men speak of Fnturity before it was plainly revealed I Gen. 49. 18. have waited sor thy Salvation O Lord saith dying Jacob. The Words seem to come in without Connexion on the former as Light immediately sprung into the Soul a full assurance then of what he had faintly hoped and fore-thought of his few and evil days and now it was beginning to be accomplished I had fainted unless I had believed to see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living Psal 27. 13. This is not for all here are dead or dying so we are as soon as we begin to draw Breath Even the Inhabitants of the earthly Canaan do not boast of the Happiness which aâ—ises from the Ground of their Health and Plenty but of the Goodness and loving Kindness of the Lord of their Trust in him Much more should those under the Gospel Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 1 Pet. 4. 5. Let not your Hearts be troubled Believe in God Believe in me John 14. 1. The Sence of him above under whose good Providence we live all our days those many Mansions in his House verse 2. So there is room for us if we use his Grace to become meet these are greater Comforts then the World can give which are not to be despised nor cast off as a resâ—rve for compare them a little with yours ye worldly Minded and Unbelievers The reason why you set them at naught is from Want and Ignorance But wo unto you that are Rich sor yet have received your Consolation VVo unto you that are Full for ye shall Hunger VVo unto you that Laugh now for ye shall Mourn and Weep Luke 6. 24 25. Being puffed up with Sensnality and your Souls become as it were of the same nature with the Body they begin to rellish the same Enjoyments also and to approve of them You now care for nothing more but you shall be taken from these things You who rejectthe good things of Gods Kingdom now offered unto you shall then lament the refusal of them Will you lightly esteem of that which doth ever remain when those things are done away which you highly value now Only be Wise in time consider of that before hand which you must at length be sensible of whither you will or not Tâ—y and be acquainte and your selves will affirm not withstanding all Pleasures Enjoyment Company and Recreations the two first make Brutish not Happy the others make unmindful for a little while but do not prevent Misery yet in the midst of Health Life and Vigour much more in the time of Tribulation There is no such true Happiness and sincere Comfort as what arises from God and the things of another World. Evil doth beset and fall upon us in the threeâ—old capacity of Mind Body and Estate which doth Afflict as it disturbs and is contrary Of Sorrow to the regular Order of each Indeed they especially the two first are connected that if the one suffers
Stubboinness Had you not a good mind towards God when your Desires were Pure and Sincere After whom were they most sutably inclined To him above and nothing here Then you were whispered by Satan or told by his Instruments to go that way was to be Melancholy and to avoid that you did follow Sin and Vanity Is not this really Sorrow But it may be through the Deceitfulness of Sin thou canst not tell how to get out but thou must Be advised first to forbear the outward Acts VVash and make Clean put away your former Evil Doings the Clouds will go off and the Sun may again appear in its full Might Then resume thy former Thoughts and do accordingly This kind of Melancholy leads up to the Most High from whom cometh every Good thing Observe all the Commandments but there is no need of laying any greater Burden on thy self by performances which are not required The Service God hath instituted is reasonable which may be done with a ready and willing mind Be diligent in thy Calling for this is the Will of God and agreeable to Peace as an Employment of those powers of Body and Mind Keep good Company for there is a strong inclination in our Nature toward this And though now we are often separated from one another by our several Business and Action yet these shall cease when the times of refreshing shall come when there shall be no need of Action because the end is obtained We are not now to be always in Company for we have something else to do and also they do not continually divert through the remainders of Sin and Ignorance though so much the more according as we are purged from these and have less Avocation All Melancholy and Disquiet which is the same thing doth arise from not answering the natural ends and therefore the way to avoid it is to know our own Frame and to carefully comply with the just tendencies thereof All irregularity and disorder in the Flesh is Sickness or Pain Of ness Sick. And the Lord God formed Man out of the Dust of the Ground Gen. 2. 7. Then the Ground was not Accursed nor the Creature brought into the bondage of Corruption so it is conceived he was made Immortal but after his Transgression Thorns and Thistles sprang up the Seed of Diseases and Mortality was received in with the Juice of the forbidden Fruit. Sickness came Gen. 2. 19. into the World upon Man and upon Beast and every living Creature for they were formed out of the Ground before the Fall. They partake of the Punishment of Original Sin but not so Jer. 12. 4. much of Actual and Intermedial Sins for it may be observed that they do not languish under pain or Ilness from within unless by Mans Tampering and Cruelty until what brings on their Death Whence we learn that to avoid Sickness or Pain To Hereditary Guilt let us add as little more as we can Let us comply with Gods Law which he hath revealed for the Benefit of miserable and falen Man. Be Temperate in all things use Labour and Exercise according to the measure God hath ordained it is no unbecoming thing to go to the Herd and consider their ways for Health is a present and sensible good We are alike according to the Body with them The different shape doth not alter much as appears by their several Kinds How is their well Being and sound Constitution preserved Nature goes on with them according to its Course They eat what is wholesome and sutable without superadded Sauces and Mixture Think upon their Rest and Sleep which they leave off before the rising of the Sun. See them in their goings forth and comings in what degrees of Motion they use and they are better for doing so much as designed unto The Horse and Ox performing due Service do better run out their appointed time nor perish sooner unless over wrought by Tyranny or Covetousness A good Man is Merciful unto his Beast Much more should those that are Rich have the like in consideration for Servants and the Poorer part of Mankind Not suffering them to Labour beyond their Strength for that exhausts and consumes the vital Spirits as again others do Destroy themselves before their time by Sloth and Idleness Moderation is excellent and carries through all things of the World. When the Faculties of mind are pure and free in a sound Body they can better exert themselves It is a great Blessing srom God so it is to be sought for and preserved by his established means What Man is he that desireth Life and loveth many days that he may see Good keep thy Tongue from Evil and thy Lips from speaking Guile Depart from Evil and do Good seek Peace and pursue it The Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and his Ears are open unto their Cry Psal 34. 12 13 14 15. This is the way to prevent loss of Liberty or Life from the offended Magistrate Violence and Mischief from a Quarrelling Neighbour so he is safe as to Man And then from within himself Nothing is so good a remedy to keep the Body in its due Temperament as avoiding Sin and doing commanded Duty Gods Providence here stands engaged for outward Accidents and Casualties Sickness or Pain doth happen one of these three ways and so we are taught as to each of them Ye shall serve the Lord your God and he shall Bless thy Bread and thy Water And I will take away Sickness from the midst of thee Exod. 23. 25. He hath put a standing Wholesomeness and Nourishment in those Creatures appointed for our Food and if any Poyson or Hurt should be in them as that is seldom in common things but rather in new Inventions of Luxury he can by a Thought or some other manner divert from receiving thereof or afterwards cause that it shall not hurt them Nature which is made the great Temptation to Unbelief doth plainly manifest his Eternal Power and Godhead for he first erected such a standing Course of things and even now Governs it He over-rules the whole and disposes each part thereof So he is not to be thrust out but should be sought unto as well as the Physitians and outward Help He in the first place 2 Chron. 16. 11 12. and they in Subordination unto him The dull and unthankful World will cry out upon such a Prescription or Plaister and therefore he shall have the thanks who was the Instrument of bringing it unto them Whereas they might remember who made the Body Who was it that gave Skill and Understanding to the Physitian He can also turn his Counsel into Foolishness It was God who first made and gave that Vertue in Physick and Salve to Heal for otherwise a piece of Wood might do the same He hath endued things with their several Efficacies and Uses I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by their Arms But they knew not that I Healed them Hos
the Knowledge of the Truth and right way which being hidden to discern more thereof is by Probability and Discourse for hereby Psal 85. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 7. we come to the knowledge of what is concealed as by looking with the outward Eye to search out what is lost above Ground Truth is the very Nature of things without as they are fixed and connected together and that inferring from one thing to another is the means to find it out Now because Consequences are diverse True and Fallacious Obscure and Plain to rightly discern between them and also to apprehend to go from things more known unto those that are less this is the Office and Employment of Reason But before and after all God giveth Wisdom unto the Wise and Knowledge to them that know Understanding He revealeth the deep and secret things Dan. 2. 21. 22. He may at length discover those Rules and Orders concerning the Body of Man how at first it is made for such a continuance by what ways it moves what keeps on its course and what stops that Help and Remedy may be had to each So that more may run out the days of their appointed time Who knows but it may be fulfilled all the World over what is written Thus saith The Lord of Hosts There shall yet old Men and old Women dwell in the Streets of Jerusalem and every Man with his Staff in his Hand for very Age Zech. 8. 4. Is any Sick among you let him call for the Elders of the Church and Pray over him Jam. 5. 14. The God in whose Hand all our Breath is direct every one for the best and let him be careful to look up to seek for Preservation and Relief if the Lord may raise him up Pain differs not much from Sickness being also an Indisposition in the Flesh but commonly in one single part and is the Of Pain more or less Dangerous according to the Member affected It is irksome and grievous for the present but must be endured till Deliverance is had The thoughts of past soundness and freedom from Pain do enhaunce the present but yet this Balm may soften for the Pain is transitory The days and hours past are the same as if expired in Pleasure the present slips back likewise so the less is behind and all that will have an end just the same as if it had never been at all This is seldom Mortal but if it should then care is to be had of a well grounded Hope which sends up to that place Where shall not be any more Pain for the former things are passed away Rev. 21. 4. To obtain that is our business all our Life long before Sickness and Pain come on which is a sure Refuge and Rejoycing in the evil day The Spirit is quiet and undisturbed though the Flesh doth suffer Even here God hath ordained remedies and means so they are to be used for Recovery and Deliverance Those which are called Afflictions of Estate Many of them of Afflictions of Estate are so far without that they would not torment at all if we had no thoughts of them If we do not hear or forget or are unmindful they do not disturb but letting them into the Soul with worse Circumstances and Aggravations here is the Sting of outward Adversities We admit the sence thereof to have a deep and continued impression in our minds but what may be administred for Comfort we cast a slight glance towards that concluding it unable to help and so will have none of it or make a small tryal and leave off presently and will not suffer it to have the alike stay and influence over us as the other hath Thus are we partial to our own loss and wilfully deprive our selves of Contentment This proceeds from the cunning Wiles of the Enemy who continually lets our Happiness and here serves an end by raising up the spirit of Murmuring and subtilly leads into Temptation and Sin taking advantage of our froward and foolish Nature Prov. 19. 3. which is presently upon the fret and there is a way shewed to get out but we have no Heart unto it When the Evil is upon us God holds forth a Remedy by Grace and Knowledge so we alone are to be blamed if we do not accept thereof Sometimes we imagine it is an Evil when it is none which vanishes as soon as we suffer our understanding to be convinced to the contrary If we will not give way to that it is just we should lie down and smart for our Stubbornness and Folly. Here the Philosophers may come in and help us by their Aphorism T is opinion that vexes Change or take that away and the Plague is stayed The Wise Men of the World may do somewhat as to the imaginary Afflictions which arise from hence But yet they could not give solid and perfect Comfort to real Grievances because they were not acquainted with the very Nature and Establishment of things An instance shall be in Poverty Which if not comprehensive Of Poverty of all is the worst of outward Evils This is so in imagination or reality If the first then indeed Wise Sayings might remove it where the Man would attend unto them as that is seldom for Covetonsness and Pride on which fancied Poverty is grounded are obstinate and will not be fully perswaded But where it was so according to Truth those of old were at a loss how to obtain Remedy for it for Money is one of those hard things which require both Power and Skill to get it Wisdom alone might shew the way but cannot wrest it by Violence or fair Intreaty So people were forced to sit down and Comfort themselves as well as they could when they were necessitated to endure Inconvenience and Pain all their days and afterwards know not what shall become of them They were in an hard Condition to come forth once into the World to suffer Labour and Sorrow Hunger and Thirst Cold and Nakedness and have no way shewed or assurance given how or when they should be Comforted for the time wherein they had these evil things But divine Revelation sets all this right which relies upon the same Word and Power and therefore it is as impossible to fail as that the World should fall down into Rubbish That acquaints how things stand pertaining to us Men. It gives a lively Representation of the Vanity and Transitoriness of all here they soon pass away and are forgotten Our own Reason and Experience confirm the truth hereof Call to mind the days or years lately past and reflect how they seem as to labour or sporting to delicious common or course Foodâ— Whether we ruffled in Silks or home spun Cloth. Is it not all near the same But we are required to look forward for we are told of more then these little things Would we go forth into the place of departed Souls as now we may in thought before we shall be there
Call to mind how Evil came into the World through Sin though it is not taken away yet Help is ordained against it It is Written and found true of the Benefits of the second Adam unto whom all the Scripture hath Relation Surely he hath born our Griefs and carryed our Sorrows Isa 53. 4. It is but reasonable we should have some sence of them also That as he had Compassion on the Afflicted Heb. 2. 10. so we should perceive how great things he endured for us to raise our Love Thankfulness and Obedience unto God through him Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an Example of suffering Affliction and of Patience Behold we count them Happy which endure Ye have heard of the Patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very Pitiful and of tender Mercy James 5. 10 11. CHAP. XIX AN EXHORTATION TO OBEDIENCE and FEAR of God The CONCLUSION of the Whole NOw therefore stand still that I may Reason with you before the Lord of all the Righteous Acts of the Lord 1 Sam. 12. 7. It is as certain that God is as any thing is for he made all things Consider how great he must be whose Works are so how Glorious Good and Excellent he is as those Manifestations do set forth And then think further how we the Inhabitants of the Earth who walk up and down as so many Grashoppers should behave our selves towards him If we were not his Offspring and Workmanship we might justly think he would have nothing to do with us but that shews the contrary nay moreover our Rebellion proves the Relation What might be known by Obedience is also shewed by Transgression But how unreasonable doth this last appear for reflect upon God and our selves What are we to despise or be stubborn against him He is great and we little Other things do his Will and why should not we comply therewith Would the vain Swearer walk out and as he beholds the Heaven or Earth he treads which was first Created and now sustained by an Almighty power And is it fit he should be spoken lightly of His Glorious and Fearfuâ— Name be used upon every frivolous and idle account when he hath so expresly Commanded to the contrary So it may be said of every Sin May not the God who formed us preserveth us giving whatever we enjoy give also Laws and Directions to his Creature for him to be governed by To keep the Commandments of the Lord and his Statutes which I Command thee this day for thy Good Deut. 10. 13. Thy Testimonies that thou hast Commanded are Righteous and very Faithful Psal 119. 138. As for God his Way is Perfect the Word of the Lord is tryed Psal 18. 30. Look impartially upon his whole Revelation in Scripture survey every particular Precept and Judge Whether it is not equal Psal 119. 128. for God to enjoyn and for Man to comply therewith As for Worship Praise and Prayer none denies them There is the general Consent that such are to be rendred We are zealous and prone But here Satan the Enemy hath two Wiles the one in some Ungodly people who are frightned with a little Dulness and Iâ—ksomeness at first but even they unless very Ignorant and Stupid cannot satisfie themselves without some Worship That Aukwardness would go off if they would accustom themselves to Duty Another Subtlety The Adversary hath found concerning the manner thereof for the Substance is agreed by the far greater part of Mankind But here they are fierce and hot so angry and displeased at contrary Opinions So stiff for their own an Evidence of what is in our nature to have to do with Religion Here again creeps in another Device of the old Serpent by which he takes advantage for he would confine the whole of Religion to this which is but a part and also raises a Dust about outward Circumstances which are not essential to Worship for seeing that God is to be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth but hath prescribed no exact Pattern thereof in Scripture away might be found out for Union Love and Peace Neither in the mean while should we be angry with our Brother that doth not go according to the same precise manner for as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 12. 4 5 6. Why may it not be likewise supposed If there be now some Diversity of Worship yet as long as it is the same God to whom it all relates if each way is Spiritual and True free from Idolatry Jewish and Heathen Superstition God is Glorified every way for all fall down and Worship him and God is in them of a Truth He doth actually manifest his Favour Grace and Acceptation to those of the several Perswasions among us Yea all the Idolatries in the World do some what discover that natural Inclination in Man to Worship God for all Falshood and Fiction doth suppose somewhat true and real But it hath been the Stratagem of the Devil who is permitted to resist either to take away or where he cannot do that to corrupt To move Men to forget God or deceive them in their Duty towards him As reasonable Creatures They can thus conceive That if they should lose the sence of him or harden themselves against his Fear yet still be remaineth The Lord sitteth King for ever Psal 29. 10. He is always above Thou compassest my Path and my lying down and art aquainted with all my ways Psal 139. 3. Though we do not think of him The Scripture in sundry places threatens severely against forgetfulness of him for it casts off his Kingdom which is over the Hearts of Men. Besides it is unnatural to forget God that formed us Every thing we see are his Works which do remind His Word His Servants Every Affliction or Evil and a Thousand things do stir up our Remembrance of him which before was stifled with other things The sence of him is paturally imprinted in our minds and appears forth when Stupefactions and Hindrances are taken away Corrupt Man is willing to lose it for it Occasions aw and dread which he doth not like But God would have it retained and therefore forbids Excess Sensuality and all things which clog and suppress it He doth requires us to walk Humbly with our God Mic. 6. 8. He hath established Love to be mixed with Fear both make up Reverence and Good will So we may be in the Fear of God all the day long without Torment yea with Satisfaction and Complacency Another Reason of our willingness to forget is because a continual Remembrance implies Subjection and we are inclinable to that which was our Fore-fathers Fall. But why should we not think our selves as we are indeed Creatures We are only in subjection to the Most High We are not put under Principalities and Powers The more excellent created Beings do not exercise Dominion over us We are subject to none but God
and be at their Wits end It would be a more amazing sight then when Abraham looked toward Sodom and toward all the Land of the Plain and lo the Smoke of the Country went up as the Smoke of a Furnace Gen. 19. 28. we should all think we could never get far enough off from so terrible a thing If there were no Promises nor Threatnings Who would be the Servant of the Lord For now there being both and other Arguments to yield to his obedience that if we believe and consider of them it is impossible that we should do otherwise then assent and be actually perswaded by them yet still for want of that few are throughly brought over But if these were taken away none would serve God and his Church would be like the wilderness No Homage though most just and due from us without would have been paid unto him without Expectation of future reward Neither is he worshipped as though he needed any thing Acts 17. 25. for he wants not the Services of Angels much less of sinful Men. His Glory and Happiness was infinite and compleat before the World began and cannot receive the least addition He created man to take him up unto himself and out of the good pleasure of his will hath ordered him to dwell on the face of the Earth to try whether he will be obedient and a fit inhabitant for Heaven and hath placed on the other side of him a Land of Darkness of Dragons and Scorpions where the Shadow of Death and no Light is that if he will not come whither he calls and invites him he may as a just recompence of his stubbornness and transgression fall into the other In the mean while it is made known and he is liable thereto that he may flee and get away it is decreed he must take up his everlasting habitation some where and seeing that is so full of misery he should now seek out the new Heaven and new Earth where dwelleth Righteousness If we were to sleep for ever or to be as we were before our Birth we should not esteem of and consequently not labour after the rest that remaineth for the people of God But now it is his Decree and Ordinance that if we should miss thereof we must necessarily drop where is no rest day nor night so we are obliged out of self-love to endeavour more diligently after the other There have been some of Opinion that to talk of Hell is not agreeable to the Gospel Dispensation and that fear should be banished alledging 1 John 4. 18. For what end did God put it in Man but that hereby he might be stirred up to shun the approaching Evil Why hath he told the World thereof by his chosen Messengers but that they might escape it If it be not agreeable with the Gospel Wherefore is it so often spoken of therein John who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord Preaches of the Wrath to come and unquenchable Fire Mat. 3. 7 12. A little after the Author of the New Testament speaks of utter Darkness weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 8. 12. Everlasting Fire and Punishment Mat. 25. 41 46. The like was the Doctrine of his Apostles 2 Pet. 2. 9. 2 Pet. 3. 7. Rev. 9. 6 14. 10 11. 16. 10 11. 21. 8. Jam. 2. 19. 5. 5. Jude 5 6 7 13. Lastly he who came after them all as one born out of due time delivered the same 2 Thes 1. 9. Knowing therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade Men 2 Cor. 5. 11. So those who make this objection differ in judgment from him and other Holy Men moved by the Holy Ghost for they used this kind of Doctrine Should they not now Teach as Christ himself did whose Embassadors and Stewards they say they are Have they not him for an Example Are they wiser then he Why should not all the Arguments which God hath given in Scripture be made use of to exhort unto Duty amongst which this is powerful and apt to prevail for though indeed Love is the most excellent and abiding principle of Obedience yet the terrours of the Lord do more effectually perswade Men which will drive when the other grows faint and languishing Because of the little smart and irksomness there is an unwillingness to speak or hear thereof but it is an odd kind of Mercifulness to let Souls drop into Hell rather then a little disturb them before hand with the rumour thereof and they had better suffer that then the thing it self This brings most people unto repentance for they look about themselves and think what will be the event of a wicked life continued in The word every where denounces Wo and Cursing Tribulation and Anguish against it and their own Conscience accusing them of sin and that they are now subject unto all those threatnings which they will certainly feel unless some way avoided All men even the wicked and ungodly do abhor misery and would flee from it if they saw it coming and therefore they turn from iniquity least it should be their ruin This conversion proceeding from such motives as God hath given in his Word is acceptable with him By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear observe that prepared an Ark to the saving of his House Heb. 11. 7. And others save with fear Jud. 23. After our Lord assures us of the joy over one sinner that repenteth Luke 15. He brings in the parable of the Prodigal Son who was ready to perish for hunger the consideration of that and not any love to his Father caused the resolutions of going home yet he was kindly received who was so little worthy of it So one rouzed up with fear comes to repentance and seeing Gods wonderful compassion towards him notwithstanding his former sins and provocation which are all pardoned according to his gracious promise Isa 1. 18. Now his former hatred and aversness is turned into good will and reconciliation to his Heavenly Father and he lâ—ves much much being to him forgiven This is increased more and more by further acts of Divine Goodness he is sensible of so what was at first begun by fear is now grown perfect and consummate by love and then living and being stablished in all Obedience he comes to that perfect love which casteth out fear 1 Joh. 4. 18. For having peace towards God and forgiveness of past sins he is not tormented with affrightful thoughts of Damnation for though heretofore he was an Adulterer or Covetous or a Drunkard now he is Washed â—e iâ— Sanctified he is justified by the Name of our Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. He hath not that fear which he had at first which hath Torment There is a Godly fear Heb. 12. 28. Which is to be retained all the days of our life Love and this kind of fear are consistent Deut. 10. 12. The distance is infinite between