and regulation be wise be well advised by me saith our Saviour who have and know the issues of life and death to deny your selves and direct your feet into the soul way strait gâ—â—e and narâ—â—w paths cast your selves under divine direction passe your lives in an exact observancy of divine prescription receive the yoak abide the bonds of the Lord Jesus Christ decline the way with and in which flesh and blood is so much so well pleased and resign up your mind will affections actions and passions to the restraints of Reason to the regulation of Religion answerable to this Exhortation is our Saviours Argument drawn from the end unto which this strait gate doth lead It leadeth unto life as if he should have said you see before you different paths you are to make your choice be by me advised to consider that broad way and wide gate leadeth to destruction but this start gate and narrow way leadeth unto life guide therefore your affections by the end you aim at and enter in at the strait Gate I this day set before you life and death chuse you which you will take I cannot but tell you if you embrace the broad way follow the multitude to do evil please your own lusts and live as you list without regard to or restraint by Gods holy Word you shall enjoy present case and future endless misery but if you decline this broad way and enter the strait Gate deny your selves enter the way of Gods Commandements and walk uprightly in them not turning aside to the right or left hand you must indeed undergo present hardship but shall hereby attain unto arrive at eternal happiness Let the end the last in your enjoyment be the first thing in your intention and you cannot stick in your thoughts what to chuse who will not labour for life rather then lie still and die Who will not pass some straits to possess such glory rather then live in pleasure and lose salvation for ever who at the day of judgement will not chuse the portion of Lazarus before that of Dives How sad a check is it to Dives comforts to hear the Lord say Thou hast now thy good things but shalt he hereafter tormented How reviving refreshing is it to poor Lazarus to know the Lord looketh on his low estate and resolveth that he in this life afflicted shall be in Abrahams bosome abundantly comforted cost what it can be it never so strait and narrow enter in at the strait gate it leadeth unto life According to St. Luke Strive to enter in at the strait gate enter into it for life is the end of it strive unto this entrance for you labour for life and that calleth for the utmost diligence and violence of endeavours strive not feebly and faintly but with force and vigor press forward in it with strength and vivacity with power unto perplexity strive unto and again until you sweat until you bleed again press into this narrow passage until you be immured and perish if need so require stretch your limbâ— until you be not able to stand walk with wait on God untill and after you are weary you cannot live with God unless you love God you cannot love God unless you embrace him pursue him with all your heart with all your might with all your soul with all your strength you seek salvation though it is not wages you must work for it work out your own salvation with fear and trembling with a fear of diligence not of diffidence and despondency a sight of Israels glory will make a cursing Balaam cry out Oh that I might die the death of the righteous and that my latter end might be like his but the laborious life of the righteous can only secure the happy death which passeth into eternal life Heaven is not had with a wet finger short winded wishes will never set any in the haven of everlasting happiness the slothful in Christianity can never inherit the promise the kingdome of Heaven suffers violence the violent take it by force fight so as to get victory so run as to obtain so wrestle as to prevail so strive as to be able to enter the strait gate for strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life Give me leave to inforce this general Exhortation unto an industrious pressing on in holiness and heavens way by some feâ— motives which may perswade with you and make you see the necessity thereof Consider therefore Heavens way is an hard way it is a way of difficulty must be walked in with diligence it is a way of danger must be traversed with care 't is a way of dolour and distress must be moved in with deliberation and discretion Heavens way is an hard way because as you have heard it is terminated and boundâ—d out of which there is no starting on either side with the least of safety Besides that 't is thus hard in it self it is made more hard by these things which attend it or rather us in the entrance into this Strait Gate and narrow way for it is to every the Sons of men A way of obscurity hard to finde out hard to be travelled in Heavens way obscure it is a Mistery Great is the mistery of Godlinesse Misteries are not easily understood it is a peculiar priviledge a special favourâ— a guift from heaven from God 1 Tim. 3.16 to know the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven this is not obivious to every eye the natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are specially discerned this way obscure in it self is untrodden few there be who find it Mat. 13.11 1 Cor. 2.14 the tract is small and litle not easily discerned the footsteps found are to be followed but their impression is so litle that they are soon worn out Examples of exact obedience are very few one Noah serving providence in the means of his own appointment is the Preacher of Righteousness to the old world one Abraham is the patterne of perfect resignation to God a sufficient one Moses for meeknesse one Iob for patience one David for Intâ—g ity and so singular Saints have trodden the tracts of speciall Graces in the way to Heaven and their footsteps are to be found with most diligent search and accurate observation this obscure and trodden way to life is perplexed with many intricacies and doubts which do arise from the variety of Gods providence and variation of our condition how to carry in a single how in a married ho to carry in an adverse how in a a prosperous state how to carry in society and variety of Society how to carry in solitudes how to live by faith in all conditions how to live under Gods Ordinances under all dispensations how to do the duty of a Minister and of a common member to the Church How to pursue the purity and how to preserve the entity of the Church how to advance the power of
which is hard in its passage but happy in its end And it is in its self an entire proposition and so shall stand for our point of Doctrine which we shall prosecute by way of explication and application Strait is the Gate and narrow is the way to life First by way of Explication The Doctrine explained I will not spend time in noting to you the many Readings and vâ—â—sions of this proposition only observe the ancient Copies to read the same as a proposition of admiration How strait is the Gate How narrow is the way which leadeth unto life but this being an Emphasis in no hindrance of its agrumentation it giveth no cause of controverssie This proposition falleth into two parts to be particularly explained 1. The Subject or thing spoken of The gate and way to life The Subject 2. The predicate or thing spoken of it It is strait and narrow Of these in order and first of the Subject or thing spoken of and therein we have two things also observable 1. The End Life The end of a Christian strife 2 The means under this Metaphor a Gate a way life is that end and estate which is to be aimed at and driven unto by the Gate and way which our Lord Jesus Christ doth advice and direct this is the marke all must strive to hit the prize of our high Calling All must press to possesse for this lest by shooting shoâ—t or wide dâ—th utterly undo us and sinck us in perdition I say it is Life an undoubted Blessings a most eminent Blessing Iob. 26 4 the Emphasis the Entity of all blessings peace plenty honour and dignity are meer nullaties to dead men a Worm is as much as a Crown to a man in the grave he who is not cannot be rich or honourable whatever be mans estate he is only happy by being take away his life Prov 3.16.8.35 and you take hiâ— all life is the chief of blessings to be pursued with utmost Diligence preserved with utmost Care and purchased at the dearest rate All that a man hath he will give for his life Not naturall life The Devil well knew the worth of this Jewel when he durst presume to put at Job to pawn his conscience Integrity the insensible eternity of his life to the securing of a present transient puff thereof But the life in my Text is more than a bare naked life it is the life which is in the right hand of wisdom which comprehendeth all goodness real good this is not a natural life though that is to be preserved and prized yet for the securing of this life it is to be parted from and lost of Math. 16.25 in this sense our Saviour hath determined he who will save his life must loose it Not spirituall life The natural life capacitateth to the enjoyment of the good things of God but this life gives us the enjoyment of our good God himselfe this life is not the spiritual life I do not mean in respect of its naâ—ure and quality for so it is spiritual but I mean it is not such in resâ—ect of degree and opeâ—ation whereby the life of Grace the same in kind is distinguished as different from the life of Glory but eternall life this life giveth us a Converse with God remote and at a distance subject to weakness and imperfection and many heat chilling almost heart killing interpositions and cloudy dispensations But the life in our Text gives us the enjoyment of God immediately in his presence 1 Cor. 15.12 fully in himselfe perfectly seeing him and knowing him as seen and known of him and eternal y without parting from him or his parting from us this is the River of Life which runneth in the City of God into Rivers of pleasure in his presence for evermore Rev. 1.22 it is therefore that which Christians in Scripture-language call the life of God the life of Christ the life of Glory life everlasting It abideth after the natural life is expired it aboundeth beyond what the spiritual life as distinct from this life doth or can extend unto This life is the Emphasis the excellency of Eternity it being thereof the subject Eternity simply and in the abstract is an amazing dismaying property a soul that sitteth or walketh in the vale of the shadow of death and casteth his eye on the black boundless bottomless Ocean of Eternity findeth the same to reflect affrighting dreadful apprehensions on his soul which are appeased and made comfortable by onely discerning eternity is the adjunct unto nature Men cannot without dread and terror shoot the Gulph of natural death because thereby they pass into eternity it is the assurance of life in eternity which encourageth the soul in so sad passage and this life eternal is the City end estate unto which the Gate and way in our Text doth lead The means to life The means conducing to this end is by a Metaphor called and compared to a Gate to a way and as such it doth represent unto our serious observation the nature the order and the number of that means which doth effect or by which men must work out their own Salvation It s nature First this Metaphor doth note unto us the nature of the means of Grace which tends unto Glory It is a Gate and a way a Gate a way are places of personal motions under special prescription and limitation unto some peculiar place or end and these places are denominated Gates and Ways in relation to their termination and the necessity of mens motion in them a Gate as that close passage by which if men do not enter they can no way move in the Way or Street which leadeth further The way is that narrow bounded passage by or in which men can onely move in safety unto the place at which they would arive if they step out of these bounds they are trespassers and in danger and therefore by their personal motion under these prescriptions Prov. 3.19.4.11 Psal 118. â—9 they can only arrive at their desired places this then doth teach us The means which must effect eternal life is mans personal motion and activity under Gods prescriptions directions and limitations these are the paths of peace the way of wisdom and the Gates of righteousness the termination must be from God but the motion must be from man the Lord doth set but man must keep within these bounds direction is divine observation must be humane euery man who will get Heaven Gen. 17. Câ—l 1.10 must go to Heaven in Gods way he who will win God must walke with God according to the will of God He that will wear the Crown of righteousness must ran the race of righteousness Heb. 12 1. eternal life cannot be obtained by humane invention nor without humane motion or industry they will equally miscarry who stand still in or strike out of the way which God directeth
and hath determined Israel could never have possessed Laish though the Gates stood open if they had stood still Judg. 18. and not advanced towards it Heaven is not the event of idleness but of activity when the Lord hath once bounded determined directed the Gate the way of life must move in it with all care and constancy 1 Tim. 9.12 Luke 13.24 1 Cor. 9.24 Phil. 3.14.2.12 diligence endeavour industry is required from men for the effecting of their Salvation They are called upon to fight strive and wrestle run press proceed in Gods Commandements to work out their own Salvation I could never yet understand or approve the mute non moving Religion of such Quakers who pretend most to Gods Guidance Miserable are the desires and hopes of life which strive not unto the attainment and security thereof vain are the professions of God which provoke not motion towards God such who call Christ Lord Lord hear him and assent to the truth of what he speaketh but will not do what he saith will find the Gate of life shut against them when they would but cannot have admittance not every one who saith Lord Lord but he who doth the will of my Father are in the Gate the way ver 21. and shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven saith our Saviour in this very Sermon and shortly after this very Text God hath determined his worship declared his will appointed his Ordinances Men therefore must with all care caution constancy and diligence attend observe and do the same the Gate the way to life is mans activity in faith and obedience mans labour in word and Sacraments Mans industry to do the several duties of his general and particular Calling having known the will of God we must up and be doing having seen the way of righteousness we must stretch our Limbs and actively strive and press forward in it though man is Passive in receiving the first Principles of Grace and all subsequent strength to duty he must be an Agent in the pursuit of Glory I never could believe man had of himselfe free will to good nor that man could ever enjoy God without doing good with the force of a free will God may turn our faces towards Zion but we must go thither on our own legs they go from strength to strength every one in Zâ—on until they appear bâ—fore God Psal 8â— 7 Christ Iesus may first apprehend us but we must follow after reach forth unto those things which are before us press forward that we may apâ—rehend that for which we are apprehended of him Phil. 3 12. the sâ—rings may enforce but the wheels themselves move in the clock the Spirit helpeth our infirmitieâ— But we must pray believe c. It is Christ who strengthneth us but content in all conditions â— 12 knowledâ—e how to want and abound patience under provoking afflictions must be our own act Salvation is God gift but we must seek it and receive it like our selves by serious studious zealous constant motion in the way of God commandements he thaâ— sits still when he sees his way shall never come to his journeys end the natural language of saving conviction is what shall we do Be assured Christians the who enter not the â—ate Acts. 2 37. move not in the way get not unto life Be ye therefore not slothful but followers of them who through faiâ— unto duty Heb. 9.11.12 It s order and patience in difficulty inherit the promise Secondly in this Metaphor we may observe as the nature sâ— the order of the means which leadeth unto life it is a Gate a way firâ—â— a Gate then a Way mens motion unto entrance and after progress in the way of Gods prescription and limitation God is 〈◊〉 God of order nor must we think him more regulaâ— in humane society the things of the world then in the Affairs which concern his own Glory and his peoples Salvation they who act prepostrously in the things which conceâ—n men do reproach the maker and they who act 〈◊〉 offerously in the 〈◊〉 thinâ— which concern God reproach thâ—iâ— Redeemer nature aâ—â— necessity doth make a Gate of entrance proceed the wâ— of progress to any propounded â—end Inch â—tion must 〈◊〉 before process thougâ— there is in some sense and caâ—e an â—â—trance without pâ—â—gress in the wayk of God there cannot poâ—ssâ— be a proâ—â—ess without entrance many may indeed begin in point but end in the flesh run well in the first acts but be hiâ—dred in the couâ—se of Christianity after they have known thâ— way of righteousness and escaped the pollutions which are 〈◊〉 the world through lust they â—ay be again entangled therein aâ— overcome and turn frâ—m the holy Commandement some who are 〈◊〉 far from the Kingdom of Heaven may fall short of it and soâ— who are almâ—st may never be altogether Christians but none 〈◊〉 walk in him who have not first recâ—â—ied Christ the Lord noâ— can be edified who are not entred into the most holy Faith the Scriptures and Ordâ—nances of God Psal 119.130 Heb. 6.1 do represent unto us the Gate before the Wâ—y of Glory the entrance of the word of God which doth make wise the simâ—le the first principles of the Oracles of God the fâ—undations of saith the first Conception and sâ—â—ming Christ in the soul the Sacraments of God are suited to this order Baptism is a seal of an Imitation to the Church engrafâ—ing into Christ Incorporation to the Saints The Lords supper is a Sacrament of growth and continuance in Christ of progress in the way of saith and true Religion and such aâ— move not in this order cannot possibly pass unto eternal life It is in Grace and Religion as in nature and secular affairs and in both It is all one not to undertake an enterprize or â—o invert the order of motion necessary to any end They tâ—at enter not the Gate may moâ—â— and go forâ—ard but not into tâ—e City they who lay not the foundation may form a frame but cannot build any standing structure such who secure not their Birth and are not rooted in Christ cannot grow up in him It is with many preposterous Christians as with rash gâ—ddy Concellors who dispose the Conquest and divide the Bears skin before they consult the war-fare or go out to kill the Bear or like wandring beggars who being in constant motion neither know nor care whither they go so they have but an house in their eye so many having heard of Heaven and Holiness wander with a blind affection any ways in which they may keep that within sight but never consider whether they have entred the Gate of this Enclosure Let me tell you many will prove this destructive to them that they take a view of the dignitys without any care of the dutys of a Christian and grow great and strong in the joye confidence and expectations of Saints who are strangers yea enemies to the
point Murther he determineth in a scâ—rnful word in gesture Adultery in the cast of the eye Disobedience in the neglect of a parent prophaning Gods Naâ—e in a groundless and trivial Oath the whole matters of his Sermon are most strict Rules in the observation whereof he placeth perfection in similitude to God and in this very Text the strait is opposed to the wide Gate the narrow to the broad way the way of sin is an open Common the champian ground in which the mighty Hunters against the Lord doe sport themselves without any limits but the way of Sanctity is an Enclosure a passage perillous fickle difficult dangerous in which men cannot move without fear and care without pain and grief without crosses and losses without smart and suffering without pressing and striving and yet out of it they may not turn to right or left hand without certain ruine The way to Heaven is a red Sea passage in which there is no possibility of motion unto safety and life but by going forward for enemies are behind and walls of water doe on each fide enclose us if we give back the enemies will destroy us we cannot step aside but the Sea will drown us by going forward we may meet with a wilderness march and many encounters with the sons of Anack and the Kings of the Countries through which we travel but we are sure at last to arrive at the Land of life and promise for strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life I have done with the explication of this Proposition before I pass to application I shall note and but note unto you the Arguments which doe convincingly demonstrate that strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and I shall not wander to seek them they are suggested in the Text and are these Life is the end unto which this way doth lead and that you Arg. 1 heard before is an estate of excellency its obtainment and effecting must needs be by means of intricacy difficulty is inseparably attendant on dignity the passage into a Princes Pallace is not common or easie but by many strait gates and dark entries Pebbles lye common on the surface of the earth but Pearles are hidden in the bowels thereof and must be digged out with difficulty and danger Needs there be any more said to convince you that Grace and Holiness is a strait gate and narrow way then to tell you it leadeth unto glory this estate was not purchased without the Lord Jesus coming from Heaven being tempted by the Devil tormented by men forsaken by God and his passing through the straits of a shameful cursed death and can we think it should lie common and open without guard or enclosure for any that will when they will which way they will to enter into It is below its worth and should expose it unto contemâ—t This Gate and way is strait and narrow because singular 't is Arg. 2 one and 't is but one In this way we must go to Heaven and out of this way we cannot get to Heaven singularity is alway attended with difficulty be this way never so foul tiresom never so tedious and troublesom we have no other way in which we can walk to this end all confinement is cross to mans spirit How are â—en affrighted from and afflicted in the wayes of godliness because of reproach of singularity which should be rather their inducement and encouragement to perseverance with all diligence for the Heirs of Heaven are singulars not every one that cryeth Lord Lord the way to Heaven is singular but one enclosed â—rescribed way though our corrupt nature be disposed to run at liberty and prophaness will bear no restraint yet we must know we must keep close to Gods Commandements and walk in the one way the one Gate of his appointment unto life Nature hath made many wayes to death and but one way of difficulty and danger to passe into life and corrupt nature can and doth create many wayes to Hel but the guift of God is eternall life to be obtained in and by that one and only way which he hath determinated bounded and revealed This Gate and way to life is strait and narrow because few Arg. 3 there be that find it paucity of Travellors does make as well as proclaim difficulty in the way of motion for because few passe through it it is untract untrodden not easily to be discerned Christs flock is a litle flock the Elect are but a remnant there are but a few names who are found faithfull many may follow Christ but there are few will sell that they have and give to the poor some will deny themselves take up their crosse and follow him many will call him Lord Lord but few will do what he saith many may strive to enter in at the Strait Gate but few are able to effect it nor is there any more plain and clear demonstration of difficulty and danger then the paucity of those who passe through it a common Road is a beaten Road every man will travel the open way few will take pains to passe through straits to the poscessions of life and glory This gate ie a strait this way is narrow for there is in it no entrance no processe without diligence our Saviour did direct his curionists questions to strive to enter in at the strait gate but Arg. 4 this puts me upon the application The Application of this Doctrine might be large and various Application but time will not allow me to expatiate but doth constrain me to contract I will therefore passe by those many Inferences which flow from hence and confine my selfe to my Text and our Saviours method viz. an exhortation affectionately to embrace and earnestly to presse forward in the strait gate and narrow way My beloved be intreated seriously to reflect upon your thought s that strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and let difficulty persuade provoke your diligence consider the words and exhortation of our Saviour enter in at the strait gate and narrow way so our Evangelists doth report it but Luke reporteth it strive to enter in at the strait Gate The duty is the same in both these Evangelists though the different occasions on which it was perswaded caused some difference in expression but both the sentences are considerable and have their Empha as St. Ma. presents it to us it guideth our choice affections to embrace according to St. Luke it provoketh our industry in pursuit of our chosen object that we may not miss to attain the end enter in at the strait gate that is chuse and affectionately embrace the way of danger and difficulty in which you cannot move without eare and cost without courage and consideration without pressing and perplexity although your nature cannot but affect ease desire to walk at large reluct under the very thoughts of restraint
prove he whâ— hath begun his good work shall and will perfect it unto the day of his Grace Motive 4 Strive we to enter the strait gate for the end is more worth then the utmost of our endeavours Heaven will make amends for all the hardship of the way thither How did the Patriarchs press on the bare perceptions of faith not having received the promise which we have performed but seeing them afar off Heb. 11.13 saluting them at a distance our Lord Jesus hath led us this way for the joy which was set before him he endured the cross and despised the shame The conscience of duty will make a sincere Saint confess that in the most exact of his obedience he is an unprofitable servant but when we shall come to make a sensible comparison between the dignity we receive and the diligence we used the difficulties we felt we shall find cause to cry out by Grace we are saved The light and momentany afflictions through which we pass here are not to be compared to the exceeding eternal weight of glory which we shall enjoy hereafter Our present pressing fighting striving in heavens way may cost us many a weary step and weeping eye many sighs and groans many prayers and tears many careâ— and fears many an aking head and heart It may cost us our best worldly enjoyments dearest Relations and our very life but cost what it will it can never cost too dear If once we arrive at this Haven we shall sit down without the least repining repenting thought that ever it cost so dear we would not for ten thousand times as much have lost eternal life Christian Friends I hope the consideration of these things will excite your diligence and provoke you to press through the many difficulties and dangers which are in the way to heaven and stir up your selves to strive to enter in at the strait gate and go forward in the â—arrow way which leadeth unto life What now remaineth but that I present you with some few Directions which being well observed may facilitate your passage to glory alleviate your burden and make Christianity the course of piety a course of more delight and ease Observe therefore these Rules for your help herein Go not without God march after the Captain of your Salvation Help 1 under the conduct of the Lord of Hosts the presence of God is the prop of the soul in all perplexity the most certain protection of his people in all their distresses and dangers the only assurance and encouragement that God ever gave or his servants ever desired in all their undertakings of difficulty and danger was his presence Jeremiah must stand as an iron wall and pillar of brass against Kings Princes Priests Prophets people under the alone protection of I will be with thee saith the Lord So also do the Ministers of the Gospel Gods presence is the best security in all our straits his Spirit will guide us into all truth resolve all our doubts and be a voyce unto us saying This is the way walk in it When we are ready to wander on the right or on the left hand his Providence will supply all our wants his Grace wâ—ll support all our weakness in a word whatsoever be our temptation his wisdom will find for us a way of escape that we may be able to bear it for if God be with us who can be against us what can be too hard for us I know how to want and how to abound I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me was the Apostles and is every Saints experience Christian Friends your progress towards heaven is as a Wilderness-march to the Land of Promise stir not without God Take up Moses resolâ—tion Verily if thou go not with us we will not go up hence Be not put off with an Angel the Angels are undoubtedly ministring spirits to the heirs of salvation We owe much to God for the Ministry of the Angels they pitch their tents about them that fear him and keep them in all their ways But my beloved the difficulties which attend our salvation can only be vanquished by a Divine Arm Isa 49.25.51.14 15. they are too strong for any created being to divide the Sea when the waves roar upon the Captive exile hastening to be delivered it is the work of the Lord of Hosts to take away the captive from the mighty and to deliver the prey of the terrible is the proper act of the mighty God of Jacob. Move not without God as ever you mean to move with strength and success for of our selves we can do nothing the Lord is he who worketh our works in us and for us both to will and to do Help 2 Get and study a right Map of Heaven get the description of the City of life for the nature and scituation thereof will not onely enflame your affections and add wings to your endeavours but will help us to guess how to steer our course thitherward To be well skilled in the Map is the great benefit of travel And to have good intelligence of the enemies Quarters is the great advantage of Warfare The paths of peace are only made known by Wisdom The Prince of life can only reveal the state and passage unto life The Lord Jesus resolved his Disciples to be more then half in Heaven when he could assure them they knew the place and they knew the way My beloved cleave closs to the Scriptures and study them they shew the new Jerusalem which is above the Rivers Rocks and shelves the Ports Creeks Straits and narrow passages which you pass the dangers and difficulties which attend you in your passage the people and Enemies you must encounter and how you may direct your selves in all these Christians know that the light of Nature is too dark to describe the dignity or difficulties the dictates of men the traditions of the Church the determination of Council the Laws of Princes are improper imperfect directions to the duties whereby we travel to Heaven I despise not those but give them their due honor But I would have you to remember Israels wilderness-march to the Land of promise was in every step directed by the immediate Oracles of God And the eie of Faith did direct the Patriarchs through many narrow strait passages to seek the City not made with hands and the Scriptures were written that you may beleive Christ is the way and that by beleiving you may have eternal life search then the Scriptures for in them you think and I am sure you have eternal life Gain an account what it may cost you to get to Heaven Praemonitus Help 3 praemunitus a foreseen Charge is easily defrayed our Saviours Advice is that we be wise Master builders and politique Warriors to forecast a capacity to effect before we undertake an enterprize and to compleat the Fabrick before we lay the Foundation he who can account all things loss and dung in
of the Church not to separate from the Church for corruption sake It was a sin in them who were angry with the Church as some of the separation are and do depart from us What and if some cast off England shall we reject her because some of the sons of her Mother do so Here is shewed two marks of the true Church of God The footsteps of his flocks Assemblies of Gods people to his true Ordinances and his own Ministers Thus far and in these words doth this reverend Author though afterwards a great countenancer of the thing he here condemned This I say Christians it may sound harsh in your ears but you must let it sink into your hearts The Church defiled and disordered must not be despised or declined the Worship and Ordinances of God uncomfortably unprofitably administred yea with some superfluous Appendants must not be disowned or determined evil but embraced and attended as his Worship The crisis of pietie in this case is to maintain our converse with God in his own Ordinances dispensed in a mode grievous yea loathsom to our souls continue our communion when we mourn for what we cannot mend Observe it Christs Ministrie was most vehemently convincingly enragingly invective against the erronious Doctrines prophane and supersticious lives of the Church of the Jews and her Priests and Teachers yet he continued communion with her and appeared an Advocate for her against the flocks of his companions self-gathered constituted Churches we know what we worship Salvation is of the Jews So long as Gods Ordinances are salvably dispensed take heed to your own personal actions in any imposed or directed evils and disorders mourn over the imposition and administration which may extend a guilt on the Church collectively but disown not the Church despise not the Ministry decline not the Worship whilst they exist the Lords Look to it that your zeal to purity break not unity and your loathing humane inventions make you not leave Gods Institutions You are Christs sheep as you will be led be looked after by the shepherd and Bishop of your souls see to it that you leap not out of his fold You may have your waters pudled your pastures trodden the proud of the flock to push you with horn and with hoof your Pastors may rule you with pride and with crueltie Lording it over Gods heritage and you they being careless of you may be dispersed But I beseech you when the great shepherd shall come to judge between sheep and sheep between you and your shepherds let him finde you on the mountains of Israel Ezek. 34. though scattered and afflicted Communion with the Church under corruption may not be very comfortable but be assured it shall be safe Reformation must be mournfully endeavoured but Separation will never effect it it will for ever hinder supplant subvert it I must tell you my determination is by Gods grace to seek purity of Ordinances in union with the Church and by non conforming communion to witness against and endeavour to remove disorder and corruption Go continually Armed your course of piety is a constant Help 8 militation be then wary Souldiers be Armed Cap-aâ—pe take unto you the whole Armour of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day have your Loyns girt with verity principles of truth the spirit of a sound mind your breast guarded with the brestplate of Righteousness Ephes 6.12 integrity of heart your head covered with the helmet of hope which will under the greatest Billows and most roaring Waves hold your head above the water have your feet shod with patience the preparations of the Gospel of peace In every step you set you have sharp shells heart-peircing passion-provoking crosses losses distresses and afflictions you have need of patience that when you have done the Will of God you may inherit the promise you cannot without patience continue in well doing unto the obtainment of the Glory honour immortality Rom. 2.27 and eternal life which you do seek take with you the shield of faith in Gods declared will for Doctrine or practise in Gods glorious properties and gracious promises those will quench the most fiery darts of the Devil take unto you the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God to cut down your way kill your Lust the Worlds allurements and the Devils suggestions thus armed stand fast in your Christian resolution but move forward advance in your Christian conversation and you shall with ease encounter and overcome all opposition for the Captain of our Salvation hath led our enemies captive and looketh that we defend our own souls against the subtile malicious stroaks of a subdued though our sworn Enemies Guess your way by the compass of the Covenant the Lord Help 9 hath condescended to deal with man by way of Covenant for the effecting of his Salvation this is a Covenant of Grace Grace is the ground of it it was freely made for we had no obligation on Gods Justice or power to constrain or exact it Grace is the matter of it I will be your God you shall be my people you shall walk in my ways my spirit shall be in your hearts Grace is the form of it I will be your God I will write my Law on your hearts I will put my spirit within you you shall walk in my ways my grace shall be sufficient for you Grace is the end of it our sanctification here and our salvation hereafter and the means necessary unto both in the way of their obtainment and our pursuit of them This Covenant is the Contract of the Bible the compendium of the Gospel Christ is Mediator the Ministers are dispencers Ordinances are the dispensations Faith and Obedience are the conditions Grace and Glory with all good things is the matter of this everlasting Covenant this Covenant like a Compass points at all parts of Heaven when we are in the wide Ocean of the World out of sight of any Land to guide us we may stear by this Compass to our desired Haven when we are in darkness and danger between the narrow Creeks and strait passages of Sylla and Caribdis this Covenant is a light a Lanthorn at Land to guide us unto that Nick and narrow point which will secure us Christians the comfort of this Covenat is not known till being shut up from men secluded from Ordinances and under the want of all means it may be so much as a Bible you begin to reflect your Relation to God Gods Dispensations of grace to man and call to mind the Indenture and Charter which doth secure declare and direct both This Covenant will dissolve our doubts direct our duties and dictate our comforts in all straits in all conditions this and that I must do or not do this and that I must expect or not expect this is or that is truth or Error will be easily inferred by him who is interested in and understandeth the Covenant of Salvation by this when I a poor Gentile consider Abraham is ignorant of me and Jacob knoweth me not can yet cry unto the Lord thou art my God by this when I am in the Furnace I can cry unto the Lord my God and apprehend him answering me my people I can understand by this the word which speaketh unto us as Children say my Son despise not the chastening of the Lord I hereby know correction paternal castigation to be the result of affection from God and relation to God and so when I sit in darkness and can see no light I can trust in the name of the Lord and stay my self upon my God faithful in Covenant who will not fail me I hereby discern sin and detect errour to be eschewed discover truth and duty to be embraced and pursued In a Word what the word doth more amply and abundantly declare when I am at liberty to use the Covenant of Grace doth suggest and from thence I may infer it for my comfort and guidance when restrained the good therein promised I may boldly challenge the evil thereunto repugnant I must rejct the truth and dutie thereby dictated I must receive and do you look for experience and I tell you this in the uprightness of my heart in my late condition the Covenant of Grace was my great comfort the consideration of the Covenant was my councel I would not for all the world have been ignorant of uninterested in or estranged unto the Covenant of God Go you and do likewise If you are confounded in your passage to life it is for want of the Compass of the Covenant or skill to use it Go forward in Heavens way being entred the strait Help 10 gate and narrow way stand not still motion will make it easie Travellers are more tired at the beginning then end of their journey because not used to such violence custom in all things become a second nature whatsoever you do go not back non progredi est regredi in heavens way not to go forward is to go backward The enemy will come upon you if you advance not against him Remember Lots wife take heed of backsliding you will thereby hinder your selves in heavens way and wound your consciences take heed of Apostacy from the faith you will thereby ruine your salvation and hurt religion Consider The just live that is persevere in grace and holiness by faith but if any man draw back Gods soul shall have no pleasure in him Be it your care not to be found in the number of them who draw back unto perdition Heb. 10 3â—â—â— but of them who beleeve unto salvation of their soul Having begun in the Spirit do not end in the flesh inure your selves unto hardship be stedfast and unmovable and you cannot but abound in the work of the Lord nor shall your labour be in vain Beloved Friends the way to life being bounded with such dangerous precipices beset with such difficulties and opposion and your depraved nature being apt to wander averse and indisposed to diligence and activity in holiness you cannot but find strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be who finde it But I beseech you enter chuse to enter it is the way to life Strive to enter it is strait observe practice these Directions now given by Gods grace your entrance will be an act of ease and success Consider what you have heard and the Lord give you understanding FINIS