Aug. 7 1670. A most useful SERMON Preached in London By a most worthy and faithful Minister and Servant of Jesus Christs most learnedly pressed from Amos 8.11 Behold the day cometh saith the Lord God that I will send a famine in the Land not a famine of bread nor a thirst for water but of hearing the word of the Lord and they shall wander from Sea to Sea From which Text of Scripture he learnedly shews the dreadful and deplorable condition of that Kingdom which a famine of the word of the Lord seizes upon and further shews That they are the greatest Felons who would rob us of the word of God and that there is more justice in Hell then is here upon Earth for in Hell they do not punnish the Innocent Printed in the Year 1671. Amos 8.11 Behold the day cometh saith the Lord God that I will send a Famine in the land not a famine of Bread nor a thirst for Water but of hearing the Word of the Lord And they shall wander from Sea to Sea A Sad Text and Sad Times too well agree In the beginning of this Chapter there is a Vision in the first verse The Lord hath shewed me and behold a Basket of summer fruits it was a Type or Embleme to signifie the suddainness of Israels misery you know summer fruit doth soon perish winter fruit may be preserved long but summer fruit doth soon fade so the glory of Israel like to summer fruit it shall soon fade away there is the Vision 2. In this Chapter there is a Prophesie in the 32 d verse The Songs of the Temple shall be turned into howling a sad Prophesie God grant it may not be our Portion songs of the Temple to become howling where God formerly was served in a pure manner where there was sweet singing and melody unto the Lord now there would be mournful Songs that joy of the Temple it shall be quite ceased A sad Prophesie 3. In this Chapter is set down the cause why the Lord did write such bitter things against Israel his own People the cause was very apparent it was their sin sin drew Plagues at the heels of it Israel grew now weary of God in the 5 th verse of the Chapter When will the New Moon be gone that we may sell corn they had rather a great deal be trading in their shops then worshiping in Gods house when will the New Moon be gone when people grow weary of Ordinances then God grows weary of a People And 4. There are set down the punishments for those sins of Israel in the 9 th verse of this Chapter I will cause the Sun to go down at Noon day Beloved this is not meant the natural Ecline of the Sun but the meaning is God would now darken Israels outward glory and splendor The Sun in Scripture is a Metaphor for joy now the going down of the Sun at noon it is to express great afflictions coming upon this People when they thought all things should be well every thing should be well flourishing peace and prosperity kissing each other why now there should be a suddain change God would Eclipse their outward Comforts saith he the Sun shall go down at Noon day and this was not all there is a greater punishment yet behind and that is in the Text I have read God threatens for their sins that there should be a Famine in the Land not a Famine of Bread nor a Thirst for Water but of hearing the Word of the Lord as if God should say it was a mercy if onely a Famine upon your Bodies that may pine your Bodies Oh but it is a worse a Spiritual Famine a Famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. In which Text you have these four parts 1. Here is a note of admiration in these words Behold it seems to be a wonder that Israel God's People in Covenant to whom the Oracles of God were commited that these should want the word of the Lord Oh what a wonder that such a full breast should be drawn dry that they that had such plenty of Ordinances should now be cut short and forced to cry out We see not our signs there is no more any Prophet among us that 's the first Behold there is admiration 2. Here is the judgment threatned in the Text a soul Famine 3. The extention and universality of this Famine why saith God it shall be a Famine in the Land not in a House or Parish but there shall be this soul Famine it shall be universal in the Land 4. Who it is that gives the Famine a Commission and that is God I will send a Famine not of Bread or Water but of hearing of the Word of the Lord. The words thus opened into these several parts they yeild us these four Propositions or Doctrines 1. It doth shew That the word of God is to the soul as food to the body for strengthning and refreshing of it and that 's imply'd in Job 23.12 I esteemed the words of thy mouth as my necessary food they are my food that my soul feeds upon 2. The second Doctrine is this When the word of God is despised or opposed it is just with the Lord to take it away from a People 3. The third Doctrine is this The taking away of the word is the beginning of a Spiritual famine and 4. That a famine of the word is far worse then a famine of Bread A famine I will send saith God not of Bread nor of Thirst for Water but which is worse the hearing of the word of the Lord. The famine of the word is worse then a famine of bread next to damning of a soul what can be worse then starving of it bodily famine is very sad much more spiritual famine I shall speak a little of bodily famine that will set off the other the more Famine is that with-drawing of an necessary recruit of Nature Famine is the with-holding of that Oyle which should be poured into the Lamp of Man's Life Famine and Death is such as you see a picture they both bring the Body into an Anatomy See a description of a famine in Jer. 14.3 Their Nobles have sent their little ones to the water they came to the pit and found no water they were ashamed and confounded and covered their heads It is a very unusual sight to see Noble Mens Children Tanckard-bearers the Nobles sent their Children but found no water Famine of the Body is worse than the Sword is and that in these three respects 1. The Sword cuts off suddainly it makes a quick dispatch now Famine makes you dye a lingring death Lam. 4.9 Those pine away strucken through for want of the fruit of the field they pine away Famine will neither let a man live nor yet suffer him to dye He that is in famine may say as St. Paul In death oft how many deaths doth he dye before he dyes 2. Famine is universal it reaches more then the
the Word it must needs be a heavy and a dismal Judgement Now to speak more distinctly to these 1. Consider what a great blessing the Gospel is and 2. The dispensers of it and then you will easily conclude what a Judgement it is to be deprived of them As for the Gospel it is a blessing which Crowns a people the very Engine which God uses to convert a Soul It is called in Scripture the word of life because it enfuses life into the people it is a two edged sword Heb. 4.12 with one edge it strikes sin dead with the other edge it strikes the soul alive besides consider the great blessing of this people in these three particulars and you will see what it is to be deprived of it 1. The Gospel of Christ it is the beauty the riches it is the strength of a Kingdome the most sparkling Jewel in their Crown the beauty of God shines in the Gospel Brethren the Gospel is the glasse in which we see the unsearchable riches of Gods love to a sinner The Gospel preached gives us the presence of Christ and Christs presence is the spiritual beauty of a Nation now if there be a famine of the Word then the glory is departed England without the Gospel will be like unto a house when the rich furniture and hangings are pulled down the house is naked and deformed so if the preaching of the Word be Eclipsed then the glory of a Kingdom is Entombed and all places of honour lye in the dust 2. The preaching of the Gospel is the riches of a Kingdome it encreases a Kingdoms treasure and revenue there are many temporal blessings that come along with the word it hath been observed that those places have been most fruitful and have been most enriched where the Gospel hath been planted trading in those parts hath been most quick it is observable that same place of King Jehosaphat that when he had taken care for a preaching Ministry and sent his Princes and his Nobles to encourage his Ministers Oh how rich did his kingdome grow they brought him presents of silver and he waxed exceeding rich 2 Chron 17.11 The Gospel it is like the Ark which carries a blessing with it where ever it went Hag. 2.18 saith God Consider from this day even from the day that the Lords Temple was laid from this day will I blesse you Israels mercies did bear date from the Temple building so that the Gospel is the riches of a Kingdome Mark what I say to you this day the ready way to beggar a Kingdom is to take away the Gospel I beseech you remember a Famine of Gods word will soon bring a Famine of Bread upon a Land 3. The Gospel preached is the defence of a Kingdom it is a Kingdoms safely and defence it is the Fort-Royal of a Land it is the very lock where on Englands strength lies what was the strength of Israel God was there there was his word and there was his ordinances that was the Rock where Israels strength did lye not brazen Walls but silver Trumpet are the best defence of our Land It is said of the Levites or Ministers that when they came preached at Jerusalem 2 Chron. 11.17 The Text saith thry strengthened the Kingdom It is remarkable in Scripture they as take away the preaching of the Gospel are like those that pull down the Bancks to let in the main Sea they open a sluce to let in the wrath of God upon a Kingdom thus you see the Gospel is a singular blessing and therefore to have a famine of the word to have the Gospel go it must needs be a great curse to a Land Again as the Gospel is a great blessing so the Dispensers the Ministers of the word they are promised as great blessings to a Land and therefore to have them removed and a Soul famine it is a heavy judgment God promises his Ministers as blessings to a Nation Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors after mine own heart that shall feed you with knowledge and that they are great blessings appears by the title the Scripture gives to them 1. They are called the Dispensers and Stewards of Gods word they are called Embassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 We as Embassadours of God beseech you in Christs stead to be reconciled we come to wo you in Christs name and clear up your souls to Christ we come to make up the happy match between Christ and you we bring the Kings picture along with us we set before your eyes the Lord Jesus in his most Orient Colours we show him to you in the beauty of his Person the glory of his Offices the sweetness of his love why now if on a suddain God calls home his Embassadours it is a sign he intends the match shall be broken off 2. They are called Dispensers and Stewards of the word of God they are called stars in Gods hand Rev. 1.20 They are stars First For their light how glorious is the Gospel when it is bespangled and set thick with those stars Secondly they are stars not only for light but for use they are like the star that guided the wise man to Jesus Christ if those spiritual stars be removed how shall the soul know how to steer its course they will be like Mariners that are benighted upon Shelves and Rocks Oh how many where these stars are wanting shall to hell in the Dark 3. They are called Dispensers and Stewards of Gods holy Oracles They are called Physitians Jer. 8.22 Is there no Balm in Gilead is there no Physitian there the soul of man is subject to more Diseases then the Body as one Christian is troubled with the Stone of the heart another with a dead Palsey and benumedness of Conscience now it is the work of Gods Ministers to find out these Diseases and to apply proper remedy Beloved how sad is it to have your Physitian taken away that should heal you to have a poor soul lie all in Agony in a burning Feavour of Conscience and now to speak words in due season or drop in Christ is there no Balm in Gilead 4. God calls his Ministers his Waterers 1 Cor. 3.6 Apollo's was a Waterer now you know if you have a plant set in a good soil if it be not watered it yields no fruit This City of London hath had many Apolloes in it it hath had much watering you have been watered with the Labourers of your Ministers and perhaps watered with their Tears too Oh but for your sins God may command that there shall be no more showers no more watering If the Lord should transplant his Apolloes and see there is more need of watering and planting in forreigne parts how would this work of Grace go backward in us how would your good affections wither and be as the ground that is parched and dryed for want of showers Thus Beloved you see what a great blessing it is to have the Gospel Dispensers among you and
our Temple into Howleing Oh lay hold upon Christ by importunitie you read of those in the Gospel when Christ made as if he was going away the Text saith they did constrain his to stay with them Luke 24. Verse 29. Is not the Lord upon the Thrashal of his Temple as if he was ready to take his wings and flye from us Oh let us by humble prayer lye at his Feet and if it be possible constraine him yet to stay with England stay Lord rather any Judgement than this rather lay a stroake upon my body or Estate but doe not bring a Famine of the Word of God and if we would prevaile with the Lord use Arguments in prayer when we come to God for the poor Gospel of England Lord hast thou never a Remnant left among us a People that love thee and fears thee that hangs about thee that will not let thee goe Oh destroy not the cluster is not there a blessing in it Oh wilt thou be gone from us art not thou our Father will the Father take away Bread from his Children Lord will not the Enemie insult to see thee leaving thy Temple where thou hast put thy Name wilt thou make the hearts of thy people sadde and wilt thou rejoyce thine Enemies Oh Lord hast thou not given Bond and is there better Security hast thou not promised under thy Hand and Seale thou wilt give us Pastors after thine own heart to feed us with Knowledge Lord thou wilt never Forfeit thy Bond. It is true we are an unworthy Nation not worthy to be Beloved Oh but canst not thou make us fit for Mercie canst not thou give us Repentance as well as Deliverance Nay Lord let us farther press thee is not thy Honour concerned in all this we are called by thy Name leave us not thus should we use Arguments and follow God by prayer and surely the Lord will not depart from us Prayer it makes a sweet sound in Gods Ear and he will not goe away where he hears this Musick Againe Thirdly Would we prevent a Gospel Famine which we have cause to fear let us this day turne to God and break off our sinnes by righteousness Jer. 7. Verse 3. Amend your wayes and your doings it is a vain thing to pray unless you reform amend your wayes and your doings What should God continue his Gospel for to an impenitent sinnefull Land that are resolved they will sinne who will lay out cost upon ground that brings forth nothing but Briars who will power Rose-water upon a Dunghill Would we prevent a Gospel Famine let us breake up the Follow ground of our hearts by Repentance I will say but this if we Reforme not we can expect to see no good dayes more God will un-People us he will un-Church us ere he hath done Oh better loose the Sunne in the Firmament than that the Gospel Sunne should be Eclipsed in our Horison who would desire to live when the Arke of God is gone what good Christian can forbeare weeping at the Funeral of the Gospel that is the first exhortation let us labour to prevent the coming of Gods Famine upon us as we would prevent Fire and Plague so labour to prevent this Soul Famine Seccond Vse of Exhortation is this if a Famine of the Word be so sad as you have heard let us doe what we can to keep God still amongst us and his Gospel You will say how shall we keep the Gospel it is a blessed designe to keep the Gospel I will name three or four things and I have done First Entertain the Gospel into your houses that is one way to keep it Obadiah he entertained the Ark and his house was blessed for the Ark sake if you cannot have the Gospel in poblick as you use to have with purity and freedome get it into your houses I am sure of this you can never put your houses to better use then to entertain Christ and his Gospel I beseech you let it not be said that the Gospel is put to seek its lodging does not this Gospel bring Salvation Oh how glad should you be to have Salvation come to your House Secondly Would you keep the Gospel among you Improve it the best way I know still to enjoy the Gospel is to improve it lay up a stock of knowledge let the word of Christ dwell richly in you coll 3. Verse 16. Receive the Word not only into your heads but into your hearts get good by the word Preached while the Manna falls gather Manna the best way to enjoye the Gospel is to improve it God will not take away the Brest so long as Faith draws the brest And then Thirdly Prise the Gospel and that is the way to keep it the Ordinances of God are the most signal blessings they are better then Gold Silver they are the food of your souls they strengthen faith they increase joy these are the Conduits that holds the Water of Life that soul that before was dry like Aarons Rod being planted near these waters of the Ordinances have flourished have brought forth Buds and Almonds and therefore prise the Ordinances Beloved here we converse with the Lord Jesus Christ if ever we enjoy Christ upon earth it is here if ever we see his face it is through this Lattice Gods Ordinances are like the place of the Mercy Seat where the Lord did speak from heaven to his People oh then prise these Gospel blessings and that is the way yet to keep them among you And lastly If you would keep the Gospel with you adorne the Gospel you that are here present you do all profess the Gospel that is not enough unlesse you adorn the Gospel Phil. 1.27 Let your Conversation be as becomes the Gospel but when do we adorn the Gospel I answer when we live according to the rule of the Gospel in sobriety and sanctity Oh that is to adorn it when we walk according to the rule of it in sobriety and sanctity we adorn the Gospel when we walk as the Members of Christ and as those that are acted by his Spirit we adorn the Gospel when we shine forth in a kind of Angelical brightnesse and live so holy as if we had seen the Lord this is to adorne the Gospel and this is the best way I know to have the Gospel intailed upon us and upon our posterity after us
Sword the Sword skips over many they may be hid from the edge of the Sword as we read of Obadiah he hid a Thousand Prophets in a Cave and so escaped the edge of the Sword now a Famine reaches all 3. Famine makes a man cruel to himself and it is like a Wolfe in his breast it makes a man feed upon himself he eats the flesh of his own arms it makes a Person unnatural Lam. 4.10 Thus the famine of the Body is worse than the Sword and now Beloved a Famine of the Word is worse than a Famine of Bread in these two respects 1. A Famine of Bread is onely a pineing and starving of the body Oh but the other is starving of the soul by how much more pretious the soul is then the body so much the sadder the famine of the soul must needs be the soul is the most spiritual and reserved part of man it 's like spirits of wine the soul is a divine spark that flees upwards towards God Now if the soul be more noble than the body then the famine of the soul must needs be more deadly and pernitious than that of the Body c. 2. The Famine of the body is but temporal but for a time and it will quickly have an end sorrow and sighing shall flee away Ezek. 35. Oh but the Famine of the soul is eternal The worm will be ever gnawing the man the man will be ever dying but never dead he will never tast of one drop of the water of life it is an eternal famine he shall not have one drop of water to cool his tongue and thus you see the Famine of the word is far more grievous than the Famine of bread Now the sadness of the souls famine will further appear in these three or four particulars And I beseech you observe 1. To have the Famine of the Word of God it is a dreadful Judgement because now the very means of Salvation is taken away The very Bridge is plucked up that should lead us over to Heaven Prov. 29.18 Where there is no Vision the people perish The Hebrew word for perish hath two significations either it signifies to be made naked they strip off their Ornaments and glory or else the word perish signifies to reject God rejects such a people when he takes awy the Vision from them Where there is no Vision the people perish But now here is a Question may be asked Quest You will say unto me but may we not be saved without the Word Preached Ans I will not dispute what God can do in an extraordinary way when people are debarr'd from Ordinances by sickness or the like or captivity the Lord hath promised to be a little Sanctuary unto them Ezek. 11.16 As the people of Israel in the Wilderness when they could not have the ordinary means of tilling plowing and sowing in this case God gave them bread from Heaven John 6.31 Let me assure you ordinarily God doth not distil the Golden Oyle of Salvation but through the pipes of Ordinances and therefore you shall observe in Scripture that Ministers of the Gospel are called Ministers of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 because the spirit of God ordinarily makes use of the Word to work grace and therefore 't is called the Ministry of the spirit why this makes the Famine of the Word so dismal because now the very means of salvation is taken away from a people they lie in their blood 2. I beseech you observe A Famine of the Word it is very sad wherever it comes because now the Lord turns away his face from a people or a nation Ordinances are the face of God they are his smiles face in the Gospel it 's called the face of Christ 2 Cor 4.6 Now beloved when a spiritual Famine comes God turns away his face from us The Child had rather have his Fathers frowns upon him than that he should turn away his face to be so incensed against him that he will not look upon his Child and this is sad to have God turn away his face from a people better have a frowning face from God than noe face The Lord may have love under a wrinckled brow as the sun may be under a Clowd but for God to turn away his face from us is a signe he intends to disinherit us as David prayed Lord hide not thy face from me in Anger Psal 120.2 It is sad when God hides his face for a time but worse when he quite turns away his face that he will not look upon a people Oh this makes a soul-famine very sad and dreadful 3. The Famine of the Word must needs be very sad and dismal because if the Word be gone God has now done speaking to us he hath no more to say Pray observe It is called in the Text a famine of hearing of hearing of the Word we shall hear no more from God God hath something to say to a people as long as his Ordinances are amongst them he speaks to them by his Ministers they are his mouth they deliver his Council Now as it is a sad judgement for God to have done smiting a people Ezek. 1.5 why should you be smitten any more and so for God to leave speaking to a people this is a rebellious people it is to no purpose to use any more words I will speak no more to them it is better for God to speak as if he were angry than not to speak at all the prisoner cryes to his Judge for mercy mercy and the Judge will not speak a word noe way but he must dye if God hath done speaking to us in Word we shall hear him speaking in another Language in his Wrath In Psal 2.5 then shall he speak to them in his Wrath and fiery Language If a man will not speak to another it is a sign either that he slights him or he doth not think him worth speaking to or it is sign he intends some evil against him It was sad with Saul when the Lord had done speaking to him 1 Sam. 28.6 the Lord answered him neither by rain nor his Prophets God had done speaking to him a sign some evil was intended to him the next be heard speak it was the Devil and the news which he brought was sad to morrow thou shalt be with me 1 Sam. 28.19 beloved if God hath once done speaking to a people why then he hath done heaâ—ing to when he shuts his mouth he alwayes stops his ears though you pray unto him he will not hear they cryed to me and I would not hear when the Lord will not speak no more to a people when he shuts his mouth he presently stops his ears Now is not a spiritual famine sad God hath now done speaking to a people 4. The people and the dispensers of the Gospel they are promised by the Lord as great blessings to a place why then to be deprived of such blessings and have a famine of