Lords work we tell the World that our Master is exceeding gracious and who knows but that by this means the number of his servants may be increased 2. The man that 's faithful proclaims his Lords power The power of Christ doth rest upon him else he would be unstable as water who through Christ strengthening of him is like the very Rock unshaken and the more weak the Believer is the more glorious is his power in whom he believes USE I. Of Reproof and I shall direct it to two sorts of persons 1. The fickle and unconstant are to be reproved Their spirit is unstedfast with the Lord if the World make proffer of its good things or threaten them with evil Vain hopes draw them away vain fears drive them away from Christ Somtimes they seem to be his humble Servants but this is only an hypocritical kind of complement Self they are resolved to serve to please and to secure whatever become of Christ his Honour and his Gospel 2. They are to be reproved that are in an ill sense faithful Faithful to their sins which are the worst masters unmoveable in their resolution to make provision for the flâ—sh to fulfil the lusts thereof There is a strange stouâ—ness of spirit and fixedness in evil that is to be found in thousands Their neck is like an iron sinew their brow like brass they make their faces harder then a rock they refuse to return Say what we will sin is their master and sin they will serve though they be told an hundred and an hundred times that death is its wages They aâ—e as unchangeable in evil as the spots of the Leopard â—or the blackness of the Ethiopian Oh that we would learn of sins vassals to be as faithful to the best as they are to the worst Lord. USE II. Of Exhortation Let me press you to be faithful 1. How many obligations lye upon you to be stedfast infinite millions of encouragements â—he gives you the more constant the more comfort and peace is found Great peace have they sayes David that love thy law and nothing shall offend them Every mercy of those many thousands you receive should be a cord to â—ye you faster unto God and what strange kind of hearts have you if so many cords are sâ—apt asunder and so many obligations are forgotten 2. Whom do you leave when you are unfaithful you forsake that Lord whose loving kindness is so excellent who is able to perform all things for you whose all-sufficiency can furnish you though never so indigent This God you leave and for what do you leave him 'T is for that which is not bread 'T is for that which can never satisfie Isa 55. 2. 3. By unfaithfulness you not only deprive your selves of the Lords goodness but engage him against you Ezra 8. 22. His hand is upon all them for good that seek him but his power and his wrath is against those that forsake him And wrath armed with such power is dreadful God greatly abhors the backslider when his ancient people turned back and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers 't is said When the Lord heard this he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel Psal 78. 57 59. 4. If you are faithful with God you shall find by experience his wayes to be truth and mercy Psal 25. 10. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies His promises you shall experience to be true his mercies will all in mercy be 〈…〉 oved Nay there will be mercy in every affliction in every distress mercy supporting mercy reviving mercy turning all things to the best As the Philosophers stone is said to turn all meâ—tals into gold USE III. Of direction how to be made faithful 1. Be sensible of the treachery of your own spirits and let this make you the more jealous of your selves all your dayes Watch ye stand fast sayes the Apostle If you would stand fast you must be exceeding vigilant Watch that nothing come in at the door of your senses which may prove a snare and that nothing go out of your heart which may defile you When first the heart begins to grow weary of well-doing or to hearken to the tempter observe it and being apprehensive of your danger cry to be quickned and established 2. Pray to be upheld by the spirit of the Lord. Thus did David Psal 51. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty life holiness strength Grieve not the spirit but be obsequious to him and he will strengthen you with might in your inward man When Christ was about to go away and part with his Disciples he promises to send the spirit who should abide with them for ever and 't was by this spirit that they were born up and carried thorow all their work and the difficulties that attended it 3. Plead the Covenant one clause whereof is this I will not turn away â—from them to do them good and I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32. 40. Again he saith Jer. 3. 19. Thou shalt call me my Father and shalt not depart from me Prize these promises plead them believe them and as sure as God is faithful he will make you faithful whatever your sufferings or temptations be The Eighth Doctrine A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the death he must be stedfast This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the death may have a double interpretation 1. Be thou faithful to the death that is be thou unmovable though it cost thee thy life to be so Prefer not thy life before that Lord who laid down his life to redeem thee from death and who will recompence the loss of life temporal with that life that 's everlasting A Christian is to resist even unto blood striving against sin as the Apostle speaks he must choose rather to part with his blood than to lose his God 2. Be faithful to the death that is all thy dayes be faithful that when death comes and the Lord by death he may find thee doing his work doubling his talents standing up for his interest notwâ—thstanding all derision and opposition The Reasons why we should be faithful to the death are these 1. Much of the former part of our life hath been lost therefore all the remainder should be the more faithfully devoted to God The time past of our life may more than suffice to have dishonoured him therefore all the rest of our time in the flesh should be lived not to the lusts of men either our own lusts or the lusts of others but to the will of God 1 Pet. 4. 2 3. The whole was his due let him not be denyed that part which is behind 2. The longer we know our Lord and the closer we keep to him the better we shall like him therefore
apparent and at last he makes an end of him who did so much disturb him in his filthy and unlawful pleasures Wicked mens consciences do not unusually reproach them because they are so unlike believers Do you not see sayes conscience to them how watchful the Saints 〈◊〉 lest they 〈…〉 r into temptation Do you not see how they pray how they strive and how they live Certainly you are in danger of the same Hell which they endeavour to avoid and capable of the same Kingdome which they use such violence to take And by such language as this their false peace is intrencht upon they cannot sin with such freedome and delight but the secret and condemning whispers of conscience sowr and lessen their pleasures and this exceedingly raises their choler and like so many wolves they fall upon the harmless sheep of Christ which live among them 4. The Saints act contrary to the perverse wills and inclinations of wicked ones They make conscience of obeying that injunction 1 Pet. 4. 2. That he no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to the will of God They are taught not to follow a multitude and to judg that way unsafe and leading to ruine which is the broadest and most crowded with passengers They dare not run with others to all excess of â—iot and upon this score they are spoken evil of Two things make the Saints to be maligned by the men of the world The Saints hate what the men of the world love and vilifie what the men of the worlâ— adore 1. They hate what the men of the world love Believers hatred of sin is universal they strike at sin in themselves and others they cannot with patience see such a cursed thing served by so many they testifie oâ— its evil and destructive nature and hereby though undeservedly contract the ill wilâ— of them who prefer their sins before their souls and will by no means let their lusts go though these lusts of theirs are such sure hinderances to their eternal happiness 2. The Saints vilifiâ— what the men of the World adore As the Ephesians of old stood up for their Goddess Diana so the worldly minded cry out Great is the Mammon of unrighteousness But believers trample upon this idolized clay they call it as it is Vanity and vexation of spirit and are not afraid to let the earthly minded know that it had been better for them never to have comâ— into the world at all than to have nothing but the things of the world to be their portion You see now whence the sufferings of the Saints arise from the world and from the god of the World In the second place we are to enquire wherefore it is that God permits the Saints who are so dear to him to be thus exercised with sufferings 1. Saints are exercised with sufferings that pride may be hid from them The sin of pride cleaves close stands stiffly is not easily pull'd down A mighty hand is fain to be laid upon us to keep our spirits low and that mighty hand of God is a good hand when as the Apostle speaks we humble our selves under it Sufferings make us often to reflect on sin and to be the more affected at our guilt and vileness Our weakness then likewise becomes more apparent we see how assuredly we should sink if an arm from Heaven were not stretched forth to sustain us And when we see our vileness and our weakness we shall not think our selves too good to suffer we shall not through the haughtiness of our hearts freâ— and be impatient under our loads thus to do is unreasonable because infinitely more than we feel hath been deserved and the way to force the Lord to withdraw whose presence is our staffe and comfort Sufferings being sanctified are hugely efficacious to our humiliation bearing the yoke will â—ame our spirits and make us to put our mouthes in the dust iâ— so be there may be hâ—pe Laâ— 3. 29. 2. Saints are exercised with sufferings that they may be proved Their faith and love and other graces which are much more precious than gold that perisheth are tryed by the fire of afflictions and abiding the fire will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 7. 'T is a sign their grace is sincere 〈…〉 indeed if they follow the Lamb though he leads them through fire and water their faith is strong or else it would fail their love is ardent else it would cool they are the Lord Christs not only by profession but by a real incorporation and spiritual union else tribulation would cause a separation The Accuser of the brethren sayes perhaps to the Lord concerning believers Let men but touch what they have let them be but exposed to suffering for thee and they will presently dâ—ny thee But when they prove stedfast as a Rock in the midst of the most boysterous waves when they will part with any thing rather than their integrity their sincerity is hereby tryed and made manifest and Satans accusation is evidently proved to be a false one 3. Saints are exercised with sufferings in order to their refining Though they are not reprobate silver yet much dross notwithstanding is mixed with the right mettal hence it follows that the furnace of tribulation is but needful How do believers bestir themselvs to keep in with God when the world frowns and threatens and strikes at them Oh then the folly of backsliding is very visible how do they cry to have all those wide breaches that sin hath made closed and made up again how do their spirits make a diligent search after every thing that defiles and which may prove a dark and uncomfortable cloud between the Lord and them No lust but they are more than ordinary earnest to have it slain And they profess persecution will be esteem'd a priviledge if it conduce to more perfect purity and that they will kiss the rod that drives sin and folly far away from them As the promises of support so the promises of fanctification are often pleaded wherein God engages to cleanse them from all their filthiness to save them from all their uncleannesses to give them his spirit and to cause them to walk in his statutes and to observe his judgments and do them Ezek. 36. 25 26. The Saints in distress do hunger and thirst after righteousness and the Lord doth by degrees satisfie that hunger And the more they are freed from sin their sufferings are the sweeter 4. Saints are exercised with sufferings that they may be weaned from things visible Troubles are as so much gall put upon the worlds breasts to wean us from it In time of tribulation the Lord not only by his word but by his Providence speaks to us after this manner Arise this is not your rest build not your nest here the whole Forrest is sold to Death and every Tree must shortly down
Third Argument shall be drawâ— from the shortness of the Saints continuance iâ— this vale of tears Their tribulation cannâ—â— possibly be of any long duration The are but travellers through the world anâ— will quickly be at their journeyes enâ— A few years nay perhaps a few months will bring them to eternity and when time is no longer there will be no longer trouble The thoughts of death though terrible to the ungodly as putting a full stop to all their consolation may be refreshing to the Saints Death is their last Enemy after death no enemy can molest them Their dayes are swifter than a Weavers Shuttle they hast to an end as the Ships of desire to the Haven or the Eagle to the prey and as their dayes post away so their troubles and distresses make speed to a conclusion 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the Saints immediate entrance into rest upon their dissolution The Apostle joyns being dissolved and being with Christ together and speaking of believers in the general he sayes 2 Cor. 5. 1. For we know that if our earthly house of this Tabernacle were dissolved we have not we shall have but we have a building of God an house not made with hands eternal in the Heavens The spirits of just men immediately upon their separation are made perfect perfectly free from sin and misery which while united to the body they were loaded with The Papists distinguish the Church into Triumphantem in caelis militantem in terra laborantem in purgatorio Triumphant in Heaven Militant on Earth Labouring in Purgatory The last member of the Division labouring in Purgatory the Scripture no where mentions but express affirms the contrary Rev. 14. 13. Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours Several miserably deluded souls argue for perfection here else say they how can the Saints be fitted for glory if they are defiled all their dayes It is easily answered that the work of grace is carryed on all their life time and at their dissolution their souls are perfected Death may be called a great change not only in regard of the body but in regard of the Soul too because the soul is perfectly purified and sin quite and clean abolished Neither let it seem absurd that such a change should be for if in the first moment of conversion there is an alteration or change from no grace to grace surely 't is not unreasonable to think that at the moment of dissolution there should be a change from imperfect grace to grace that is compleat Thus the penitent Thiefs soul was perfected at his expiring else he could not have been that day he dyed with Christ in Paradise It 's plain that the Saints upon their departure hence do enter into rest therefore it must be granted that their tribulation is but as they are short liv'd nay perhaps they may outlive their tribulation and behold a lightsome ever-tyde after a day of darkness and of gloominess They may live to see the Gospel in esteem after disgrace and peace upon Israel after trouble USE I. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not their faith fail let it hold out a little longer and its work will be at an end Let faith but keep up the Ship but a little while longer in the storm and it will be safely landed Leane a few dayes more upon the promises of support and shelter you will be past the pikes and beyond all peril When you are entred into the City of God the door will be shut and as you shall come out no more so no evil shall enter after you to molest or grieve you USE II. Is the tribulation of the Saints short then let not Patience grow weary Nâ—w Patience indeed is a needful grace but hereafter there will be no necessiâ—y or use of it because you shall never feel any more burthens The benefit of affliction and the nearness of your rest should induce you to bear all with cheerfulness When you see the end of the Lord you will confess they are happy that endure Jam. 5. 11. USE III. Is the tribulation of the Saints short Then let their expectation be raised Yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10. 37. Your Lord will be as an Hart or young Roe upon the mountains of separation and when he comes he will wipe away tears from all faces and for all your affliction and tribulation you shall have joy and triumph double treble nay ten thousand times ten thousand fold USE IV. Is the tribulations of the Saints short See the difference between the Saints and Sinners The Saints sufferings are like the sinners ease and prosperity both for a moment Let not the world imagine believers miserable their misery is no longer then the worlds happiness And as the men of the world cannot be counted happy because their happiness doâ—s so soon vanish so neither can believers justly be esteemed miserable because their misery is so transient What is it to have tribulation for ten dayes and then to triumph in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever The Seventh Doctrine Whatsoever sufferings he is exposed to a Christian must be faithful All the children of Abraham should resemble their father of whom it is said that the Lord found his heart faithful before him Neh. 9. 8. This charge in the text is strict Be thou faithful And truly 't is but needful if these three things are considered 1. A Christians heart is treacherous and apt to start aside like a deceitful bow A besieged City when the besiegers have friends wâ—thin the walls that are ready to lay hold of any opportunity to betray it the Inhabitants had need to be the more circumspect and vigilant Such a City is the embleme of a believer though his heart be renewed yet 't is only in part it remains still in part corrupted and that corruption sides with the tempter and is ready to yield and open to him Faithfulness therefore to the Lord and to himself is often to be pressed upon the Christian 2. Shaking temptations are likely to be met with Mat. 7. 27. The rain will descend and the floods come and the winds blow and beat upon the house to try whether it is founded on a Rock or upon the sand onely 1. This charge to be faithful is very requisite if we consider that in time of shaking many will take offence and depart from Christ Christians in shew will then discover their want of faith and love in truth And when these fall off the Saints had need to be cautioned Do not you also leave me That so they may reply with Peter Joh. 6. 67 68. Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the words of eternal life and eternal life it self to bestow on us In the further handling of this Doctrine First I shall shew
they are willing to be reproved for sin to be instructed concerning duty they hear they keep the word as well as hear it Prov. 10. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction So Prov. 6. 23. For the commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and the reproofs of instruction is the way of life The word of God hath not only a convincing and a converting and an edifying power put 't will put the crown at last upon the head of the faithful therefore the Apostle affirms it able to give the inheritance Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 4. They who are Heirs to the Crown of Life do mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirits help they do it Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live The Heirs of life are weary of the body of sin and death therefore they crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts of 〈◊〉 They mortifie their members on earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 5. Every sin that they see they look upon with an eye of grief and hatred and strike at it 5. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life have their fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The pure in heart shall see the Lord Mat. 5. 8. his back parts now his face in glory And truly the holy are only fit to behold the Holy One. Art thou an enemy to holiness Thou art an enemy to thy own life The heirs of life understand that Jerusalem above is an holy City therefore they apply plead the promise of sanctification they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 6. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life persevere to the end they are faithful to the death as the Texâ— speaks they hold fast what they have that none may take their Crown away they not only begin but finish their course and keep the faith and so they receive a Crown of righteousness at the hand of the Lord the righteous Judge USE III. Suffer I beseech you a few words of Exhortation and I shall conclude with them 1. Let the serious and believing consideration of this Crown of life enliven and quicken you to every duty Art thou hearing for a Crown and praying for a Crown and wilt thou hear carelesly and pray coldly Doth not such a Kingdom as heaven is deserve thou shouldst use an holy violence to take it what slothful and dead when such glory is in view Oh strive to enter in at the strait gate that when thou seekest to enter in at Heavens door and cryest Lord Lord open to me entrance may not be denyed 2. Let this Crown of life be made use of to silence Satan to fence thee against temptation When the Devil tells thee of â—ase and gain and pleasure which sin will afford reply Come O thou lying and deceitful spirit put thy â—ase and gain and pleasure into one Ballance of the Sanctuary and I will put the Crown of life and glory into the other and what is sinful â—ase to the Saints rest or the gain of gold to the Saints glory or pleasures for a moment to eternal rejoycing Satan will not know what to say to this but perceiving unlikelyhood of prevailing will flee from you 3. Let this crown of Life loosen your hearts from the world Do not defile and load your selves with thick clay do not stick fast therein when such glory is so certain and near at hand Be not desirous of or content with a portion in this life since you are just entring upon a better Live as strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that you seek a better country then the world hath any 4. Let this crown of Life steel your hearts against sufferings Fear not what enemies can do since the keyes of heaven hang not at their girdle nor glory is given of their pleasure Our Lord set the joy before him so he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. and if you imitate him you shall at length sit down where he is at the right hand of the throne of God 5. Let this crown of life set you above the fear of dissolution it cannot be enjoyed till you are gone from hence you must dye before you can live the life above Let your death be natural or violent you must not be startled or amazed The Angels are ready to do their office to convey you to paradise Christs arms are open to receive you which are a part of his purchase and his redeemed ones Christ understands what 't is to dye 't is an unusual tryal which you can have experience of but once unusual strength shall be afforded If death were but lookt upon only as a dark passage into the glorious and lightsome inheritance it would be no longer terrible but desireable 6. let this crown of Life make you long for your Lords appearing Oh cry unto him to remove time and dayes out of the way and that the wheels of his chariot may make greater hast Long for the time when the heavens shall break asunder and the fairest of ten thousand shall shew his face through the clouds and sit upon his great white throne to judge the world in righteousness When he comes his reward will be with him Rev. 2 2. 12. Never a Saint shall be seen without a crown at that day And Oh what a spectacle will it be to behold the Head and all the members together every one having on a rich and sparkling diadem The Saints are described to be such as love their Lords appearing And there is reason they should wish for it For when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory FINIS
A COVERT FROM THE STORM OR The Fearful encouraged in Times of SUFFERING FROM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life By Nathanael Vincent a Preacher and Prisoner of Jesus Christ and written during his close confinement when few could come at him but his God who yet abundantly made up the want of other company London Printed in the Year 1671. To Him that is Higher than the Highest and will shortly come to judge the world in righteousness Most Mighty Lord A Prisoner approaches to thy footstool and not without some confidence because he is confiâ—ed not for evil doing but for well doing That which men account his crime thou hast made his duty and by doing this he hath incurred their displeasure but he hopes he hath avoyded thine He was willing to cast the Net over a great many that the more might be taken and by being taken set indeed at liberty He was desirous that the Subjects of thy Kingdome might be multiplyed therefore he spake to such great multitudes and he verily thinks however men may censure it thou dost not call it Rashness or Zeal not according to knowledge Since thou hast commanded thy Messengers to go into the High-wayes and as many as they find to bid to the Marriage Since thou layest an injunction upon them to preach the Gospel to every creature surely thou 〈…〉 r didst intend their compassion and care should be confined to a very few Oh therefore that every Five of them that hear thy voyce and follow thee might be increased unto so many thousands Thin Congregations are a lamentable sight Let them therefore fly as a Cloud and as Doves to their windows Incline the hearts of Magistrates to pity and moderation let their Sword be drawn only against those that are Malefactors truly so called not against such as would fain be at work for thee and turning many unto righteousness Convince them that 't will be the design and desire of a godly Ministry to make their Hearers better Subjects to their earthly Rulers as well as to the King of Saints Thy Prisoner who is in this Gate-house during thy will and pleasure earnestly Petitions for his liberty He deserves to be laid aside but desires to be used he would fain have the Prison Dore open to let him out but is a great deal more earnest to have the Pulpit dore open to let him in that he might again be preaching of thy Gospel He longs to be warning the secure who see not the Sword drawn out against them to be stopping the madmen who are making such hast to eternal destruction to be inviting the miserable to mercy the lost unto a Saviour Where is thy zeal thy strength O Lord and the sounding of thy Bowels and thy mercies are they restrained Oh pity immortal Souls that are going to Hell by Droves and in some places the Pastours are so far from hindring that being exemplary for loosness and impiety they go before them to perdition Thy Prisoner blesses thee that ever he had the honour to be in bonds for thee The worse of thee even thy Cross is not at all to be disliked The enlargments of his heart have been greater then when he was at liberty his peace hath been more perfect Thy presence is so sweet that he would go to any place to have more of it Thou hast given in that grace which is glory begun he confidently believes this Gaol will make him more meet for the glorious liberty of thy Children and that he shall praise thee for ever for what he hath endured Thy Servant can say it with boldness before thee that he honours the Authority thou hast set over him he hath put others in mind to be subject to Principalities and Powers to be ready to every good work and remembers it is his own duty to be thus subject Only he hath preached contrary to the Magistrates Command because thy Command is so express for preaching and thou pressest it upon Pastours as they love thee to feed thy Lambs to feed thy Sheep Oh thou dreadful and heart-searching Judge cause the integrity of thy Noneonforming Servants to shine so bright as to break through all unreasonable prejudices Let their righteousness be brought forth as the Light and their judgment as the Noon day that that severity may be at length ashamed of it self that 's used towards them Oh hasten hasten thy second appearing that the secrets of hearts may be discovered and that it may be made manifest before men and Angels who have worshiped thee the rightest way who most have sought thee and least themselves Thy Servant being taken off from preaching was willing to be some way beneficial to thy Church therefore his Pen hath been going when his tongue could not And if souls are edified and encouraged if thy Kingdome and Name and Glory be any way by this Writing advanced then the highest end will be attained which is aimed at by him who is not who would not be his own but by millions of Obligations is engaged to be Thine Eternally Nathanael Vincent TO THE READERS Especially those that were wont to be his Hearers Readers NEed Arguments be used with the toss't in a tempest to put into an Haven or with the pursued by the avenger to fly to a Sanctuary Their danger is the best Rhetorick to perswade them to that which is for their own security And if your danger were more deeply and rightly apprehended you would hasten to the Lord whose Name is a strong Tower and who hath promised to be an hiding place from the wind a covert from the Tempest as Rivers of water in a dry place and as the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa 32. 2. The Devil hath great wrath because he knows he hath but a short time We in this latter age of the World must expect more furious assaults from him because the day of Judgment unto which he is reserved is hastning His instruments are enraged and drive on furiously But what is all their force and power to the strength of that Almighty Lord who if you leave to him and trust in him hath covenanted to uphold you How inconsiderable is their anger when your believing thoughts have dwelt a little upon his kindness and compassion Be not affrighted at the Cross of Christ 't will when felt and sweetned be found no more a burthen to you than wings are to the Bird flying in the air or Sails to the Ship cutting through the Sea 't will be a means to mend your pace and make you run swifter in your Race towards the Prize of the high Calling of God If your Lord had not known the easiness and usefulness of his yoak he would never have required
will certainly bestow a Crown of life and immortality The First Doctrine He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The Spirit speaks hardly any thing more expressely then he doth this truth The Apostle tells what afflictions and persecutions he met with and peremptorilvaffirms that none shall escape Perse-secution they shall meet with if not in one kind in another Drops shall fall upon every Saint though some may be wet with greater showers 2 Tim. 3. 10 11 12. But thou hast fully known my Doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patience persecutions afflictions which came unto me at Antioch at Janium at Lystra what persecutions I endured there But out of them all the Lord delivered me yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Consult also Act. 14. 22. Confirming the souls of the Disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God The journies end is glorious but the way is â—ough that leads to it it lies through many tribulations Self-denial and the Cross are doctrines which Christ preached to all his followers Luk. 9. 23. And he said unto them all if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Two things are here to be inquired in to One is whence the sufferings of the Saints arise The other What is the reason of this dispensation Or Why the Lord suffers those he loves to be thus exercised First Whence the sufferings of the Saints arise They are both from the god of thâ—â— world and from the world it self Earth and Hell do both combine to trouble the heirs of Heaven as they are going to their inheritance 1. The Saints sufferings arise from the god of this world So Satan in Scripture is called He commands the generality of the world who are at his service and are lead by him at his pleasure and those whom he cannot rule he is resolved what he can to molest and disquiet The Devil began betimes righteous Abel did feel the effects of his enmity and hatred and he continues this persecuting Trade unto this very hour And till the whole Body of Christ be taken up where the Head is Satan will be as a thorn to pierce and trouble them It will not be amiss to examine the matter further and to search into the cause why Satan thus endeavours to load the Saints with sufferings 1. The Devil bears an implacable hatred to the Saints Head the Lord Jesus He would fain have killed Christ from the birth and incited Hered to make such weeping and lamentation in Rama because of the children that were so inhumanly butchered Mat. 2. Our Lord was tempted by the Devil Mat. 4. who would gladly have foiled the Second as he had done the First Adam but he could not prevail The Devil is said to have put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ All which plainly shews his hatred of the Son of God The works of Christ and of Satan are quite contrary Satans work is to murther and destroy therefore he hath his name Apollyon Rev. 9. 11. But Christs work is to save The Son of God was manifested to this very end that he might destroy the works of this Destroyer and the Son of God hath got the Victory He hath spoyled Principalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in his Cross Col. 2. 15. He is now ascended on high and is at his Fathers right hand And the old Dragon being full of wrath to see him so exalted spiâ—s his venom at the Members which are in his reach for the Heads sake And surely our Lord will look upon himself as the more obliged to stand by his suffering servants since 't is for his sake partly that this adversary is so liberal of his arrowes and shoots so many at them 2. The Devil is full of envy at Believers themselves Aâ—â—oon as ever he had sinned presently the chains of darkness were clapt upon him he was immediately cast down to hell no patience being shewn no pity extended no means of recovery offer'd 2 Pet. 2. God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to Hell and delivered them into chains and darkness to be reserved unto judgment But believers though by nature the children of wrath and disobedience are pitied pardoned adopted saved A Remedy is provided and that Remedy made effectual through the application of it to their recovery and the recovery of their lost blessedness Now this fills Satan with envy which is both his sin and torture and envy stirs him up to do what mischief he is able 3. The Devil dislikes holiness where-ever he finds it He hates indeed all the children of men but those that are sanctified and renewed in a special manner As he is utterly destitute of so he utterly derests and abhors the image of God which shews the fearful depravation of his nature 'T is no wonder he runs to the utmost length of his chain to harm the Saints who have put off the old and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 24. Sin is arrived at its full growth 't is come to its perfection in the Devil Holiness he strikes at and endeavours to discourage and hinder where-ever he finds it Those who resemble Satan in this the measure of their iniquity is fuller than they are aware of 4. The Devil designs by the persecuting of the Saints to promote his interest and Kingdom This Prince of darkness is a very proud spirit he would by his good will have the whole world his slaves and vassals How does he rage when any of them whom he lead captive are rescued from him He is sedulous to establish his Throne and Principality Oh that Saints were as zealous and diligent to advance the honour and interest of the King of Saints The Devil hopes to promote his Kingdom not only by flattering sinners into his subjection but also by affrighting them from the service of another Lord. There are these five wayes whereby Satan is like to be advantaged in times of suffering 1. He is likely to get advantage by discouraging the weak in faith He hopes that they who have but weak hands and feeble knees will not easily get over those slumbling blocks which in times of trouble are cast in their way And if their hearts do faint and fail not only they themselves but Religion looses ground and what ground is lost the Devil gaine He set upon Peter when he was weak and how far did he prevail Peter falls most shamefully and his fall cost him dear and how was the prejudice against Christ in the High-Priests Hall encreased when one of his followers thus with cursing and swearing did so utterly deny him Satan desires to have weak Saints especially that he may sift them as
wheat 'T is well our Lord prayes for them that their faith may not fail in the hour of temptation 2. Satan is likely to get advantage by making the Temporaries fall away He knowâ— that the Sun of persecution shining â—ot will scorch the Seed that 's sown and springs up in stony ground Mat. 13. 21. Temporary believers are quickly offended at Christ and become unbelievers again Iâ— a storm arises they will leave the Ship where Christ is and loving carnal case and an whole skin will put in to the next harbour Let Christ be alone if he will in a tempest they will not then accompany him And when many of these unsound Disciples do forsake the Lord carnal hearts are more confirmed and hardned against him as if 't were unsafe and consequently a very unwise part to be of the number of his followers The going away of temporary believers is very likely to hinder others from engaging to such a Master who is so much deserted 3. Satan is likely to get advantage in the times of suffering by staving off them that are without from coming in and closing with Christ Jesus When any begin to bethink themselves to consider their wayes and to mind salvation the Devil especially in the day of calamity fills their minds with such suggestions as these That the Cross of Christ is heavy that 't is dreadful to be hated of all men that tribulation will pinch their flesh that name relations credit estate nay and perhaps life may be called for as soon as ever Christ is closed with And hereby he strangely and strongly prevails upon timerous and corrupted nature You had better sayes Satan understand when you are well and keep your selves so you had better live in peace and plenty as the most of those about you do than be singular in your way and by that singularity make so many enemies and pull down upon your heads so many troubles And truly the flesh hath an open ear to such counsel though it be very unreasonable and pernicious 4. Satan is likely to get advantage in the time of sufferings By lessening the Saints number He cares not how many of these are cut off he delights in the high and crying sin of those who be the Saints Destroyers and he knows that when believers are cut off though he cannot trouble them they cannot trouble him any longer by undermining of his Kingdom as before they did Saints whose faith and love and hope set them above the fear of sufferings are persons whom the Devil fears as well as hates therefore he wishes he were well rid of them these will hearten and strengthen their brethren to stand fast in the Lord these consequently are the marks at which he aims and would fain quite run them down to the very grave by tribulation 5. Satan is likely to get advantage in the time of suffering by hindring the preaching and progress of the Gospel Where persecution is vehement Vision grows rare in those places where the joyful sound the glad tydings of peace used to be heard there is a sad silence The Prophets are driven into corners and not suffered to cry aloud to sinners to awaken them and turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God And when faithful Labourers are thrown aside Satan expects a plentiful harvest Thus the Devil aims at the promoting of his Kingdom by striking at the Saints But the Lord commonly at last out-shoots him in his own bow and makes these sufferings tend to the sufferers good and the Gospels glory and encrease God can a complish his ends by means that seem contrary he can make Satan and persecutors serve his Son by enlarging of his Borders which they thought and hoped to have narrowed He can thrust forth so the word in the original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Labourers into his Harvest again And though men and Devils stand to hinder their entrance and working if the Lord thrust them in in they shall go and work with more power and success then ever 2. The Saints sufferings arise as from the god of this world so from the world it self What Christ said concerning the Jewes who went about to kill him may be applied to those who are the troublers of his Members They are of their father the Devil and the lusts of their father they will do John 8. 44. He is a Lyar and a Murtherer and so are they They first raise lyes of Believers confidently affirming them to be rebellious seditious enemies to Kingdomes though indeed the Pillars of the Nations where they live and having lyed against them they endeavour their ruine having misrepresented them they fall upon them They lye in saying the Saints are not fit to live and then they strive to root them out of the Land of the living Thus they make nothing of transgressing at once both the sixth and the ninth Commandment Now the reason which moves the men of this world to trouble the Saints of God is fourâ—old 1. The Saints are not of the world Our Lord speaks thus to his Disciples Joh. 15. 19. If ye were of the world the world would love his own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Again he speaks to the same purpose John 17. 14. I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them the reason is because they are not of the world even as I am not of the world Believers are unlike the men of the world and this unlikeness is the ground of dislike They dare not be careless of their souls fearless of God prodigal of the day of Grace as the world are They are not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of their minds and they prove what is the good the acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 2. And truly the world is a great enemy to all them that are Non-Conformists to its manners although its manners are so exceeding vain and sinful 2. The Saints are of God And the men of the world who are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is no wonder if they hate the Saints likewise Visam for a saevit in umbram Some Beasts have such an antipathy to man that they will run at his Picture where they see it In like manner the world cannot endure those who have the image of God resplendent and shining in them Abel was â—oted because his works were righteous 1 John 3. 12. Prodigiously strange that believers should be abhorr'd because beautified with grace and be hated because lovely 3. The Saints are a conviction to the consciences of the ungodly 'T is said that Hâ—rod feared John the Baptist because he was a just man and holy Herods conscience was struck with an aw by the majesty and beauty that appeared in the conversation of that burning and shining light The holiness of John made Herods wickedness the more
holy violence towards him Ever be telling him what you need what you desire and be encouraged by the promise he hath made to satiate the weary and to replenish every sorrowful soul Jer. 31. 25. Fellowship with God will make solitude pleasant you will find though alone that you have the best company If you are continually almost speaking to God by supplication and thanksgiving and hearing what he speaks to you by his Word and Providences and Spirit you will have reason to profess that a Prison is one of the best places of abode next to the Sanctuary and the New Jerusalem 5. Let imprisonment be improved so as to further your progress in sanctification Ransack every corner of your hearts Deal much more severely with your lusts than men can deal with you cry out with violence against your fleshly and worldly inclinations 'T is sin that deads and imprisons your Spirits the more sanctified you are the more you will be at liberty Tell the Lord and speak it â—â—â—m your very hearts that sin is the worst of all your adversaries and that the remainders of the old man are worse than any fetters in the world Never let the Lord alâ—â—â— till you find the body of death pining and dying sensibly away the world as a contemptible thing more under your feet and your inward man encreasing strength and growing up a pace to the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Epâ— 4. 13. USE II. Of Consolation to imprisoned believers Several things may be suggested as grounds of comfort and encouragement 1. God can come at his people through barr'd and bolted doors No dungeon can keep the Prisoner close from him We read that the Lord came to his Disciples the door being shut and said Peace be unto you And if he come into the Prison the Door being shut and by his Spirit say Peace be to thee the Prisoners heart will leap for joy he will say not how dreadful but how delightful is this place this is no other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven Our adversaries let them dispose of us where and how they please cannot keep God from us or us from God they cannot shut us up from his presence and where his gracious presence is vouch safed there is rest all inconveniences and miseries are so light that they are hardly worth the taking notice of 2. The heart may be enlarged where the body is confined The Soul may be brought out of Prison when the body is committed to it In the Mittimus the form of Law runs thus That the Goalet take the body of such an one Verily over the spirit they have no power What believer would not be content to be confined upon condition his heart might be made more free to duty more free in duty upon condition his desires might swell and overflow and his longings after the God of all grace might grow much stronger than the thirst of the most sensual after pleasures or of the most worldly minded after Gold and Silver 3. The Lord who will condimn those that visit not the Prisoners Mat. 25. will not fail to visit them himself And as they more need refreshments they shall surely enjoy them He will behold them wich a reconciled face and say to them I am your light and your salvation be not terrified with the darknesse of the calamitous day wherein you live The groaning of the prisoner doth pierce the Heavens and enters into the ear of the Lord of Sabaoth who will return an answer of peace and consolation 4. The Prisoners of Christ are Prisoners of Hope They are in but during the King of Saints his pleasure If Christ say Come forth even a Lazarus shall break out of a Grave And if he have the Key of the Grave surely the Keyes of prisons are at â—ommand they cannot hold any whom he hath a mind to set at liberty Prisons may soon grow sick of the Saints and vomit them out as the Whale did Jonah However it will not be long e're the day of glorious liberty and of full Redemption come and then the adversaries of the Saints will be bound hand and foot and thrown into outer darkness and the Saints will have liberty to enter into the Kingdome prepared for them to see God face to face without any lett from others or themselves and to live eternally in his presence where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Psal 16. ult The Fourth Doctrine The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers Sayes the Text Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison The words may be referred more particularly to the Ministers or more generally to the Saints in Smyrna 1. More particularly to the Ministers As by One Candlestick the whole Body of the Congregation so by One Angel the whole company of the Pastours are 〈◊〉 understood Vnto you I say and to the rest in Thyatira Rev. 2. 24. That is unto you the Ministers and the rest of believers So here The Devil shall cast some of you into prison that is you who are the Shepherds that so against the flock he may have the greater advantage Faithful Ministers Satan never could neither can he now endure He endeavours if he can to corrupt them to puff them up with pride to draw them aside by filthy lucre to make them fall some way or other and he does it with this design that their doctrine may be the loss heeded and his Kingdome not so much weakned by them But if he be not able to corrupt he will be industrious to discourage them They trouble him will not let him alone they will not suffer the strong man armed to keep his house in peace but by warning exhorting reproving rebuking the secure and ungodly endeavour to dispossess him No wonder if the Devil wax angry at them and fling them out of their houses into places of confinement The Prince of darkness would not that these Stars should shine he would fain have these Candles put under Bushelsâ— for Light discovers what Satan is what a defiled hateful and hating spirit it discovers what his works be namely to pollute us and by polluting to fit us for perdition Light also discovers what sin is and the unconceivable needfulness and excellency of the Lord Jesus And hereupon the Devils Vassals several of them are made to bethink themselves and are delivered from the Power of darkness and translated into the Kingdome of the Son of God Gol. 1. 13. The joyful sound of mans salvation is harsh in Satans ears he imprisons therefore the Publishers of these glad-tydings and close somtimes that the flock may be edified neither in a publick nor more private way 2. The words may be referred more generally to the Saints in Smyrna Every member of Christ the Devil hates and would fain tear from him every sheep this roating Lion would make his prey therefore he raises persecution to dishearten them
of you into prison that ye may be tried The word in the original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that ye may be tempted Now trial or temâ—tation is sometimes taken in a bad sometimes in a good sense and the text may be understood either way 1. Tryal or temptation may be taken in a bad sense as referred to the Devil Certainly he by imprisoning believers designes to make them weary of their Lords yoak he would fain have them murmure and be impatient under restraint and draw them to some sinful compliance to the wounding of their consciences for the regaining of their liberty He endeavours to make them grow discontented quarrel at the Lords dispensations that their enemies which are vile and the basest of men should yet prosper and themselves in the mean time be exposed to so many hardships and inconveniencies notwithstanding the integrity of their hearts and the unblamableness of their conversations 2. Trial or temptation may be taken in a good sense as referred to Gods permitting the Saints to be thus exercised He hath certainly a wise and gracious and holy end in it 'T is true God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempteth he any man Jam. 1. 13. And yet 't is expresly affirmed that God did tempt Abraham Gen. 20. 1. How shall these two places be reconciled I answer That temptation spoken of by the Apostle James is to be understood concerning drawing away and enticing to wickedness v. 14. of ch 1. And thus God tempteth not he neither infuseth nor excites any sinful inclinations in the heart of man but strictly forbids sin and will severely punish it Thus men are tempted by Satan and especially by their own lusts But that temptation spoken of by Moses is as much as trying or making proof of Abrahams sincerity and thus to tempt is not at all unbecoming or inconsistent with the Lords holinesse and goodness and when he suffers believers to be imprisoned 't is for their tryal that he does it Now here I shall first shew What of the Saints is tryed by imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature Secondly to what end they are thus tryed In the first place What of the Saints is tryed by imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature First their Faith Secondly their Love Thirdly their subjection and obedience 1. Their Faith is tryed They that can loose what they have for Christ it argues a full perswasion that Christ is better than their earthly enjoyments and that they believe there is such a fulness in him as can make up all their losses Such esteem the promises of eternal blessings exceeding great and precious who are resolved to embrace them whatever they fling away besides When in a good Cause we lightly esteem liberty and outward accommodations it shewes we have that faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11. 1. Our faith gives a subsistence to and mightily reallizeth those things which as yet we have only the hopes of enjoying and makes the great things of another world evident though not to be seen or possessed till hereafter Faith is a noble grace it glorifies God exceedingly when a man upon the Lords word will consent to quit all that 's near and dear to him in expectation of a Kingdom and Glory which no man alive ever saw 2. By imprisonment and other sufferings Believers Love is tryed They who can undervalue Liberty and livelyhood and life for the sake of the Son of God may boldly say as Peter did in another case Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that we love thee 'T is manifest they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity But if when the world and Christ stand in competition we hold to the world and despise the Lord certainly our love is but a painted not a real fire Love is a Grace of an uniting nature The History tells us That the soul of Jonathan was knit to David and he loved him as his own soul and we find that the displeasure which Saul had conceived against David and the danger that Jonathan was in for his affection sake could not cool much less quench his love If we love our Lord our souls will be knit to him and troubles will be so far from dissolving the union that they will cause us to cling the closer and câ—aâ—p the faster about him 2. By imprisonment and sufferings of the like nature there is a tryal made of believers subjection and obedience When they will do for God though presently suffering for God follow this argues they have learned to deny their own wills and taken the Word and will of God as their guide and Rule When they regard the commands of God above the commands of men are awed by the threatnings of God more than the threats of men and dread Gods displeasure more than mans anger this is a demonstration that they have submitted unto Christs Scepter and that the Promise of the Covenant is fulfilled Heb. 8. 10. I will put my Lawes into their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people In the second place I am to tell you for what end God will have his Saints thus tryed 1. That the truth of their Grace may be evident and great peace must be the concomitant of that evidence When their gold is tryed in the fire and glisters the more shines the brighter they may be pronounced rich indeed The man that is rich in the World hath no reason to glory in his riches for he is but a beggar in comparison 2. They are tryed that Satan may be silenced He can no longer say that the Saints are mercenary or selfish when self is thus denyed when peace of conscience is preferred before the greatest outward peace and prosperity and so the inheritance above may be secured they put it to the venture what the world can do to them or take from them The Lord may say to Satan and this accuser of the brethren have nothing to reply Hast thou considired my suffering Servants how perfect and upright they be They fear God and eschew evil though by departing from evil they make themselves a prey 3. Believers are tryed that God who upholds them may be honoured The Lord is with them in the furnace he keeps them like the Bush in the midst of the flaming fire unconsumed He shewes his wisdome and grace in so tempering the furnace as that it is both tolerable and also effectual unto their refining The Saints have abundant cause readily to acknowledge that their support in trouble their benefit by trouble and their deliverance out of trouble is wholly to be ascribed unto God and he is glorified by this which is so just an acknowledgment USE I. Of Admonition to unsound Professours Be restless till you are searched and changed so as to have truth in your inward parts else you will never
abide the tryal in the time of temptation your sandy foundations will deceive you your building will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 27. You will fall away further from God more fâ—ully into sin more deep into hell and all these falls will be great and dreadful 1. You that are unsound in times of tryal wil fall away further from God Some of you though never brought quite home yet have been almost perswaded have been not far from the Kingdome of Heaven But all this common work if you rest in it will dye away when Christ puts you upon suffering you will forsake him Suffer is an hard word who can bear it And when you leave the Lord you bid farewel to the Father of mercies the God of love and of all grace the Fountain of living waters the Prince of peace the only Saviour Well may I cry out Oh how much folly is there in back-sliding 2. You will fall more foully into sin God may quickly throw the Reins out of his hands upon the neck of corrupted Nature and whither may you be carryed Apostatizing professors often turn most profane they out-run as to riot excess the wretchest hat never pretended to Religion The Conscience that was once awakened if it fall asleep again sleeps more soundly The heart that was once restrain'd from sin that restraint being gone is more eager to commit iniquity than before Nay 't is somtimes observed that backsliding professors 〈◊〉 become cruel persecutors of those wayes which once were forwardly owned by them If this be not the unpardonable sin I am sure it comes to the very brink of it 3. You will fall more deep into Hell at last Christ tells us that the last end of such is worse than their beginning Mat. 12. 45. and that both as to sin and as to punishment How large will be the Vial of wrath to be emptied upon Apostates heads how hot their place in the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone Those that as the Apostle speaks are twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jude 12. The second death will be more terrible to them they will be eternal fewel to a more furious flame The sufferings of the Saints whether imprisonment or death are not worthy to be named the same day with everlasting confinement to outer darkness and suffering in the highest degree and fullest measure eternal damnation Consider this ye hypocrites that are rotten at heart that have God in your mouthes but he is far from your Reins On how long will it be ere you attain to uprightness USE II. Of Encouragement to the Saints when they are exercised with Tryals 1. The Lord hath promised to keep you when you are tryed He may fan and winnow but not a grain of corn shall fall to the ground so as to be lost That Scripture is very observable Rev. 3. 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth He will keep from the hour of temptation that is from the prevalency of and corruption by temptation in that hour But then you must be sure to keep his Word which is called the Word of his patience because it proposes Christ as an example of patience and layes an injunction upon you to be like him And if you look upon this word as your food as your physick as your treasure as your armour as your heritage I hope you will look upon it as well deserving to be kept by you 2. Your tryals will make you to grow in grace Grace is of that nature that it increases and gathers strength by exercise As the Widdowes Oyl by being drawn out did multiply so Grace is augmented not diminished by being used Hark to the Apostle Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience not only tryeth patience but worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed The righteous by tryals and difficulties are not stopt as discouraged persons but hold on their way nay not only hold on but grow and go stronger and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. 3. After you have endured tryal you shall be own'd and crown'd Jam. 1. 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him And that Crown when received will make all pains and disgrace and sufferings to be forgotten The Sixth Doctrine The tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it Ye shall have tribulation ten dayes The Holy Ghost reckons by dayes not years and according to the usual manner in Scripture a certain number is put for an uncertain ten dayes for a few dayes The Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 17. calls the troubles of Believers not only light afflictions but affirms they are but for a moment and because they are but for a moment surely much the lighter The Arguments to confirm this Doctrine are these 1. One shall be drawn from the desire in Christ the Head to have his members with him Therefore they shall not long be absent from him and when they are with him no troubles at all shall be their companions Christ in the dayes of his flesh prayed thus Joh. 17. 24. Father I will that those also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world Christ is now gone to his father and he hath prepared Mansions for the Saints and those Mansions â—hall not be long empty Believers groan to â—e cloathed upon with their house which 〈◊〉 from Heaven to be absent from the boâ—y and to be present with the Lord. The Lord Jesus desires and hath prayed for their company Surely it will not be long before those who are so mutually desirous of each other do come together 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from the shortness of the triumph of the Saints adversaries God will quickly cut asunder the cords of the wicked that plow upon Sions back and make long their furrows I have seen saith David the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green Bay tree yet he passed away and loe he was not yea I sought him but he could not be found His great power which he abuses to oppress and trouble and himself too shall quickly pass away All the glory of the ungodly is as a dream and is chased away as a night vision And when they are laid in the dust and death is feeding on them they can devour the upright no longer And truly the more violent they are the shorter oftentimes is their triumph cruelty doth ripen them a pace for vengeance 3. A
He is not ashamed of that Gospel which is a stumbling block to the Jewes to the Greeks foolishness he is not ashamed of that word which a sinful and adulterous Generation reproach and have no delight in it Jer. 6. 10. His principal care and study indeed is to be a sincere lover and real practiser of Religion and yet he is not afraid to be an open professour though thereby it comes to pass that he is evil entreated by religious enemies That 's the first thing implyed in being faithful namely Holding Faith 2. To be faithful is also to hold a good conscience When Paul stood before the Council earnestly beholding them he protested I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day Acts 23. 1. So Acts 24. 16. Herein do I exercise my self to have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men The unstedfast professour regards not his conscience makes nothing of wounding and defiling it But the faithful soul speaks much what the same language with holy Job chap. 27. 5 6. Till I dye I will not remove my integrity from me my righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live There are these three things that argue a good conscience 1. Where the conscience is good no sinful designs are carryed on Siâ—ister aimes are not allowed by one that is faithful If his treacherous heart begin to have a squinâ— eye at his own praise or profit he checks it presently What he doth he designs that God may have the glory of and surely the glory is the Lords due since his strengthening grace doth all in us and for us And by suffering the faithful man aimes not at the advancing his own repute but that Christ may be magnified by his tryals his patience and joy in them And if the world be convinced the weak confirmed if the Gospel get ground and the Lord Jesus be by a greater multitude prized and admired he hath his end 2. Where the conscience is good ungodly desires are not harbour'd He that is faithful looks well to his desires that they be preserved pure The World is undesirable sin is abominable but his soul thirsteth for God for the living God Psal 42. 2. and sufferings are willingly undergone so this thirst may be satisfied 3. Where conscience is good 't is purged from dead works Heb. 9. 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit â—ffered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God A good conscience will not wink at unwarrantable practises will not connive at not doing the work of the Lord or doing that work negligently He that is faithful makes conscience to walk before God in truth though never so many in their works deny the Lord he is grieved and vexed at others filthy conversation and orders his own aright and so though for a while he is used hardly he comes at length to see the salvation of God Psal 50. ult In the second place I am to lay down the Reasons why a Christian should be faithful 1. A Chrisâ—ian is under a command to be faithful And this command to be stedfast is very expressive 't is very much prâ—ssed in Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 58. Be stedfast unmovable alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Phil. 4. 1. So stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved 1 Cor. 16. 13. Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit ye like men Joh. 8. 31. Jesus said unto them that believed on him if ye continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed Moses likewise of old did harp upon this string commanding the children of Israel not only to turn but to cleave unto the Lord Deut. 30. 20. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God and obey his voice and cleave unto him for he is thy life And they are forbid to turn either to the right hand or the left from following the Lord their God Now all these commands make the Christians obligation to faithfulness the stronger and truly to be unfaithful is not a single sin for he that leaves the Lord how fearfully must he be drawn into transgression 2. A Christian is under covenant to he faithful Deut. 26. 17. He has avouched the Lord to be his God He was given up to God betimes and how often has he made of himself a fresh resignation upon dayes of humiliation and when he has eat and drunk at the Lords table his covenant to be the Lords has been renewed How often has the Christian professed that his heart and members were not his own but Gods to dwell in and to make use of this is another reason and a strong one why he should be faithful The Lord is the Christians and the Christian is the Lords portion The Lords portion is his people and Jacob is the lot of his inheritance Now Gods inheritance should be for his use and should in no wise be alienated 3. The God of believers is faithful therefore they shall resemble him The Scripture speaks in a glorious strain concerning the faithfulness of God He is said to keep truth for ever The hills and mountains stand not so firm as his covenant shall Lev. 54. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee nor the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Nay the Scripture goes much higher then the Mountains in setting forth this faithfulness I have said mercy shall be built up for ever Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very Heavens And being thus established nothing on earth can shake their faithfulness 't will be as apparent and illustrious as the Heavens are The Ordinances of Heaven as the Sun by day and of the Moon and Stars by night are not more unalterable than the Lords Covenant Jer. 31. 33 34 35 36. 4. The Lord is glorified by a Christians proving faithful It reflects dishonour upon him when his Servants leave him Oh then how faithful should they be The worlds prejudices against the Lords service are heightned and they are hardned in their stubborn and evil way when they behold professours apostatize and become again their companions in the paths of folly and wickedness But the faithful man causes the way of truth to be well spoken of by his faithfulness he proclaims his Masters goodness and his power and both wayes is his Master glorified 1. He proclaims his Masters goodness and that he hath made the best choyce since he will suffer any thing rather than part with his Lord. The Israelitish servant that refused to go out free at the year of release and had his ear boared through with an Awl 't was a plain demonstration of his Masters kindness since liberty was not so â—uch esteemed as his service And so when we are unmovable in our
'T is in the time of peace usually that the world insinuates it self in trouble its emptiness is more easily discerned As believers are crucifyed to the world so the world is crucifyed unto them Gal. 6. 14. They behold the world as that which sin hath brought a curse upon and therefore to be watch't against lest it prove a snare and then they look upon the world with such a kind of eye as the Jewes did upon Christ in his exinanition Isa 53. They see no form nor comliness in it that they should desire it Believers in the evil day beside their hard usage from the world which makes them less to like it have more affecting thoughts of eternity and the world to come and hereupon the things which are temporal grow contemptible and are not counted worth a look 2 Cor. 4. 18. Whilst we look not at the thnigs which are seen but at the things that are not seen and not without reason for the things that are seen are temporal but the things that are not seen are eternal 5. Saints are exercised with sufferings that they may be â—â—â—ted for and long for the inheritance that is above By sufferings they are made conformable to their Head and are perfected and ripened more and more for glory Therefore afflictions are said to work for us a weight of glory Glory is promised to the sufferer for righteousness sake and 't is a righteous thing with God to give rest to them who upon such an account are troubled 2 Thess 1. 7. By trouble they are made meet for rest and the greater the tribulation the glory 't is likely will be the greater to be sure the more welcome When we look round about us and see nothing but matter of grief and sorrow â—will make us look upward to those mansions on high and long to be there where siâ— and suffering will come to a perpetual end In Heaven there will be an eternal calmness and serenity no sons of violence will be there to disturb the Saints in their praises no enemies will be permitted to roar in that Congregation no fear of prison or any other punishment will be there but their joy will be like a full Sea and not ebb any more for ever I am now come to the Application USE I. If he that will be a Saint shall be a Sufferer learn from hence They are far from being Saints who resolve to give out when once it comes to suffering Those are not worthy the name of Disciples who like the Swallow will tarry with Christ all the Summer but when the cold and stormy Winter approaches do use their wings and leave him Our Lord sayes He that loves Father or Mother or life it self more than 〈◊〉 is not worthy of me that is he is not fit to make one of my followers If trouble make you to be offended and go away from Christ 't is a sign you prefer ease and peace and prosperity before him and consequently that you have not the faith unfeigned of Gods Elect. If you did indeed believe Christ would be precious and that even then when he is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to others 1 Pet. 2. 7. If you did indeed believe you would be of the Apostles mind who counted all things but dung when compared with Christ and esteeming them but dung no wonder if he contentedly suffered the loss of them that his interest in his Lord might be secured Phil. 3. 8. For whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ USE II. If he that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer then 't is but reasonable for every Saint to expect suffering Reckon upon it that troubles will be met with in your way to Heaven none ever arrived to that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fair Haven without being toss't by some tempests He that goes to sea is not so foolish as to think it will be a perpetual calm all his Voyage He that Listâ— himself a Souldier expects somtime or other to be engaged So a Christian should sit down and count the cost Lâ—ke 14. before he embarque with Christ before he list himself under this Captain of salvation And certainly 't will cost some trouble to be Christs follower none ever faithfully served him but his flesh smarted for it though it must also be affirmed that this smart of the outward is usually sweetned with a far greater pleasure in the inner man Our Lord speaks to his Disciples plainly and without a Parable Joh. 16. ult In the world ye shall have tribulation but that their hearts might not be troubled he tells them first In me ye shall have peace And he adds secondly Be of good chear I have overcome the world USE III. If he that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer then 't is the Saints wisdome to prepare for sufferings Evil dayes will come but God hath provâ—ded armour of proof which if you put on you shall be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand I might here enlarge in going over the Christians Armour but I shall only single out some pieces which you must not fail to get and use in a day of suffering and which if used skilfully no force either of evil men or evil Angels shall prevail against you Though no part of the Armour of God be needless yet especially you must take The Shield of Faith The Breast-plate of Love The Helmet of Hope And cry by Prayer for continual help and support from above 1 That you may be arm'd against sufferings take unto you the shield of Faith Yoâ— are in a Battel Men and Devils thrusting sore at you that you may fall What shift can you make without a Shield The Shield is Armour to the other Armour If Faith be strong your other Graces will have the greater vigour and stand you in the greater stead Faith will make you victorious This is the victory sayes the Apostle that overcometh the world even our Faith 1 John 5. 4. And it may truly be said This is also the victory that overcometh the god of this world even our faith faith prevails against both By faith the Worthies of old of whom the world was unworthy went through all their tryals and yet these tryals were very sore They were cruelly mocked and scourged they were stoned they were sawn asunder were tempted were stain with the sword they wandred about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented Heb. 11. 37. 'T is remarkable that the Holy Ghost in describing their punishments siath they were tempted 'T is likely fair means were used as well as foul promises of preferment as well as threatnings of torment to draw them away from their integrity and this was a sore temptation But faith kept them stedfast and rendred the temptation ineffectual Faith looks to its Author and Finisher the Lord Jesus and sees the world