Reall Thankfulnesse OR A SERMON PREACHED In PAVLS Church LONDON Vpon the second day of November 1645. At a Publike Thanksgiving for the taking in of the Towns and Castles of Caermarthen and Mounmouth in Wales it being the first LORDS-day after the inauguration of the Right Honourable Thomas Adams now Lord Major of that famous City By Simeon Ash Preacher at Basingshaw London and one of the Assembly of Divines PSAL. 50. 14. Offer to God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most high PSAL. 50. 23. Who so offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God LONDON Printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster at the Sign of the Bible on Ludgate-hill neer Fleet-bridge M. DC XLV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THOMAS ADAMS Lord Major of the famous City of LONDON together with the right worshipfull the Aldermen and Sheriffs thereof Right Honourable WHen I prepared this Sermon to attend your commands it was very farre from my purpose or thoughts to make it more publike then in the Pulpit And although I finde in my self an utter aversnesse in many regards to appear in print yet your Lordships earnest desire which I account a command set on by the sollicitations of some others hath conquered my unwillingnes to transcribe this Sermon for the Presse I presume upon this Dedication not only because the Sermon was preached and is printed at your command but also that I might hereby make an open gratefull acknowledgement of your love divers waies expressed towards me My Sermon is for substance the self same which you heard I know not any one particular head which I have either added or diminished only some phrases are changed for my memory could not reach the same expressions and the words of Scripture-quotations are given in more largely then when I preached My subject is seasonable for these times wherein the Lord hath been pleased to give us in this City occasion to celebrate many daies of Thanksgiving The practice of our praises is that which God expects and I perswade Vnto how many in our Assemblies when we meet to sing praises may our God say Quid verba audio cum facta video This people draweth nigh to me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me Loquere ut te videam Let your lives answer your language When shall your works witnesse your thankfulnesse My Lord I have often heard you use these words Quid retribuam Domino Give me leave to be your Lordships remembrancer your obligations to the Lord are now much increased and with them God hath added opportunities of more puhlike service to himself Divine providence hath set you in a place of Honour Authority and Trust wherein much is expected from you Magistratus virum indicat A man is that in truth which he is when tried The world will judge of you for the future according to this years service You be likely to meet with many temptations to draw you aside both to the right hand and to the left but I beseech you remember whose you are and unto whom you must give a strict account of all your waies Advance God in your hearts design the welfare of Sion consult most with them who counsell from God and for God according to his Word and I beseech you all often and seriously minde your selves and remember others of the solemn Nationall Covenant that the Almighty may not be further provoked by the neglect and violation of it For the Sword under which we smart and bleed doth avenge the quarrell of Gods Covenant Lev. 26. 25. Therefore let every one thus speak unto the Lord Praise waiteth for thee ô God in Sion and unto thee shall the vow be performed Psal 65. 1. I will sing praise unto thy Name for ever that I may daily perform my vows Ps 61. 8. Right honourable and right worshipfull the Lord hath conjoyned you as brethren in the great work of the Government of this renowned City I pray God you may be of one minde soul and way for the true welfare thereof and for the incouragement of all such in it who sincerely seek to set up the holy government of Iesus Christ in whom I am Your humble Servant SIMEON ASH Thanksgiving realiz'd PSAL. 105. 45. That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws THis Psalm is Eucharisticall and this day is a day of Thanksgiving therefore the subject of the Psalm and the service of the day doe well sute In the Psalm the high exercise of praising God is First commanded and partly directed in the four first verses O give thanks unto the Lord c. Secondly Perswaded in the remaining part of the Psalm The arguments used to presse Gods people unto this Angelicall imployment are considerable under two heads 1. The quality and variety of divine administrations for their comfort Remember his marvellous works that he hath done his wonders v. 5. c. And that this might be the more prevailing upon their hearts a large Catalogue of kindenesses conferred is given in wherein we have an enumeration of glorious remarkable providences in almost fourty verses together 2. The end which the Lord propounded and aimed at in all these many and memorable dispensations And this is held forth in my Text That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws Whereas the life of thanksgiving lies in thankesliving in a well-ordered obedience to the God of our Salvations the God of our mercies This is the subject matter of my Text. Wherein are considerable 1. The titles whereby the rule of mans obedience is expressed Statutes Laws 2. The termes whereby the regularity of deserved obedience is suggested Observe Keep 3. The way or means whereby this regular obedience is promoted viz. All the wonderfull works of the most High for his servants and against their enemies For the Psalmist having particularized a great number of them he concludes in the Text. That or as the old Translation renders it to the intent they might observe his statutes and keep his laws If any should enquire upon the perusall of these famous providences the reason wherefore the Lord wrought wonders so many so great for Israel the Text gives an account That they might observe his statutes and keep his laws From the division of my Text I proceed to the explication of the severall words used in it wherein I will be but brief though something must necessarily be spoken to make the fairer way unto that which afterwards must from thence be observed and improved You heard before of the two titles given in this Text unto the rule of mans obedience The first is Statutes I finde the originall word translated 1. A decree Psal 148. 6. He hath made a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Job 38. 33. Jer 31. 35 36. 33. 25. decree which shall not passe As all the motions of creatures inferiour to man are bounded
by the decrees of Gods dominion which are often called the ordinances of Heaven So all mans operations should be ordered and limited by his Commandments 2. A Portion Prov. 31. 15. She giveth a portion to her Maidens And truly Gods commands are a good portion to his people I have esteemed the words of his mouth saith Job more then my necessary food Job 23. 12. And Thy testimonies saith David are my heritage for ever Psal 119. 111. Unto a gracious heart Gods work is wages and imployment is preferment The second word is Laws The originall word is most ordinarily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 used to signifie the morall law the Decalogue that constant standard or standing law by which all Nations in all ages of the world have been and shall be bound to order their conversations before God Thus much of the words used to expresse Gods revealed will to guide mans course It follows that I explain those words which suggest mans regular respect thereunto The first is Observe which imports 1. either to minde or reserve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in memory As old Jacob is said to observe the sayings the dreams of Joseph Gen. 37. 11. 2. Or to preserve in safety In this sense the same Jacob used the word in his prayer or vow Gen. 28. 20. If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go c. And this sense answers the true meaning of the next word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Keep which properly signifies to keep with care and vigilancie as ammunition is preserved from fire and false hands when an enemy is expected Nahum 2. 1. He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face keep the munition watch the way Now these notions from the originall are not vain they are both profitable and such as answer the more open language of the holy Ghost elsewhere The laws of the Lord should be treasured up in the cabinet of mans heart and memory Prov. 3. 1. My sonne forget not my Law but let thine heart keep my Commandments And all the precepts of God should be secured from violence that no breach be made upon them Keep my Commandments and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye Prov. 7. 2. These things I only touch as I passe forward to that point on which I purpose to pitch both because it is the main intended in the Text and also being most seasonable for the service of the day Doct. That mans regular observation of all Gods Commandments is the end of all his glorious administrations for mans comfort More short The end of Gods bounty is mans duty Or thus in reference to the instances of the Psalm and the experiences of our times Therefore the Lord taketh vengeance upon his adversaries and therefore the Lord worketh the deliverance of his servants that they might observe his statutes and keep his laws My beloved Who can number up in order the great things which our God hath done for us now of late as heretofore Our friends have been relieved our foes have been routed our prayers have been heard our hopes revived our forces prospered our enemies discomfited I pray you fill your thoughts with the particulars which this day have been mentioned and upon other occasions specified And then adde unto the remembrance of all this Doctrine which now I am to deal in That Gods end and aim in all is this That we might observe his statutes and keep his Laws In the handling of this weighty point well worth our serious considerations I shall according to my accustomed plainnesse endeavour two things 1. The explanation of the truth that it may be rightly understood 2 The application of it that it may be fruitfully improved I begin with the former wherein I will be but short lest I should want time to speak unto the later which I chiefly intend it being of greatest and most seasonable concernment And here by way of caution to prevent mistake in this matter under hand I wish that these four things may be observed 1. Mans obedience is the end of Gods gracious providences in regard of his precept though not alwaies in regard of his secret eternall purpose I well remember the words of the Psalmist Psal 92. 7. When the wicked doe spring as the grasse and the workers of iniquity doe prosper it is that they shall be destroyed for ever But here I speak not of Gods end in regard of his everlasting righteous decree which he is pleased to keep close within his own bosome As for the end of his command revealing his pleasure to the children of men the words of Moses that man of God are plain and pregnant to our purpose Deut. 10. 12 13. where after an enumeration of various marvellous favours vouchsafed unto Israel he speaks thus And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God to walk in all his waies and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul To keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes 2. It is the end of God in the fore-mentioned intention though too too seldome in execution God having engaged man to obedience by his bounties he expecteth an obedientiall improvement though his Majesties expectations are commonly disappointed The Lords sad complaint of his vineyard Isa 5. expresseth this fully What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes brought it forth wilde grapes ver 4. He looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousnesse but behold a cry ver 7. And our God hath very much occasion of the like lamentation in this Land yea in this City at this day notwithstanding the admirable deliverances and victories wrought for us Alas alas how few how very few do any where answer the expectations of his highnesse in reformation of their waies and in obedience unto his holy Laws 3. Although mans observation of Gods statutes be one end yet is it not the only end of his manifold favours For amongst many other aims which are alwaies in his majesties eye such is his fatherly indulgence unto his people that he doth give out cordials on purpose to cheer their drooping spirits and to facilitate their passage thorow the wildernesse of this world Let the Lord be magnified who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants Psal 35. 27. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem so the Lord is round about his people for the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity Psal 125. 2 3. 4. Mans serviceable subjection unto divine injunctions is not Gods last and chiefest end in all his glorious dispensations The ultimate the supreme end of all Gods purposes and providences is his own honour He doth all things
endeavour to discomfit Israel lest I should seem over-tart Neither would I be thus interpreted in that I have spoken as though I purposed to strike secretly any who labour in the sincerity and simplicity of their spirits to make Jesus Christ glorious in the world Let my tongue rather cleave to the rooff of my mouth for ever then that I dare to utter one word wittingly and wilfully against the honour of our Lord Christ Jesus Now I come to the last Use which is to perswade us all Vse 3 unto a double duty and accordingly is to be divided into two Exhortation branches First We are hence to be moved to praise God for this his Branch 1 indulging providence in that he is pleased by means of kindenesses to seek the winning and working of our hearts unto his holy obedience This inference is made to my hand in the words immediately following the Text Praise ye the Lord. Now to quicken our hearts unto the admiration and adoration of God in this regard let these following short meditations be seriously considered 1. That mans obedience makes no whit at all unto Gods advantage Can a man be profitable to God Is it any gain to him that thou makedst thy waies perfect Job 22. 2 3. If thou be righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he at thine hand Job 35. 7. These interrogations carry along with them vehement negations That it is not possible to profit God in the least measure by our best obedientiall endeavours Men hire servants because their work tends to enrich them But in references to the Almighty Alsufficient God all must say When we have done all those things that are commanded we are unprofitable servants Luk. 17. 10. My well-doing saith David though a man according to Gods own heart doth not extend unto thee Psal 16. 2. For unto that which is infinite and perfect no possible addition can be made 2. That mans disobedience doth not in any degree prejudice God If thou sinnest what dost thou against him or if thy transgressions be multiplied what dost thou unto him Job 35. 6. The Sun is not obscured by mans refusing to behold it or to commend the light of it The self-same beauties perfections happinesse which the Lord enjoyed in himself from eternity he shall possesse for ever though no creature should serviceably attend upon him Amongst men it is otherwise for a stock cannot be traded a trade cannot be managed many necessary works would be undone if we had not the assistance of servants The Crown needs the Plow the chiefest could not subsist but by the support of the meanest The feet uphold the head and the whole body 3. That Gods rich meer mercy did move him to make manifest his minde unto man that man might understand what carriage would content his blessed Majestie and in this regard if God had not added any further motive to obedience we are obliged to honour his highnesse He sheweth his Word unto Jacob his statutes and his judgements unto Israel He hath not dealt so with any Nation and as for his judgements they have not known them Praise ye the Lord Psal 147. 19 20. What if the Lord had left us all in our naturall darknesse as Heathens unacquainted with his Commandments yet should we not have had any occasion to except against his Majestie But how great is our engagement to our God who having given some light of knowledge doth liberally give in favours to move the obedientiall improvement thereof 4. Suppose that the Lord suspending all waies of love and liberality towards us should only by threats and blows have endeavoured our obedience yet in that respect there would have been cause of thankfulnesse for it is much better to be beaten to Gods work then to neglect it David was of this minde Psalm 119. 67 68. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word Thou art good and dost good And vers 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Therefore the waies of fairnesse and fatherly indulgence whereby God seeks to conform our hearts and lives unto his Commandments should endear him to our hearts and draw forth our souls in thanksgiving 5. The worke and worship of the Almighty which we take in hand is alwaies more or lesse defiled Gods excellencies are much obscured his name sundry ways dishonoured by our imperfections which ever attend our best performances There is iniquity in our holy offerings All our righteousnesses are like unsightly rags Isa 6. 6. when good Nehemiah reviewed his famous services for God and his house upon the discovery of his sinfulnesses he cries out Neh. 13. 22. Lord pardon me according to thy great mercies Now all this God knows yea he fore-knew all our future aberrations when he showered down favours to move our obedience Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Psal 90. 8. And David testifieth Psal 139. 2. That God knows his thoughts afarre off Is it not therefore to be very much admired that the Lord should by renewed and multiplied favours labour to prevail with our hearts To observe his statutes and to keep his laws 6. Lastly as though all that I have spoken were too little the Lord hath herein further manifested and magnified his unsearchable grace that he hath undertaken abundantly to recompence all our obedience In keeping of his Commandments there is great reward Psal 19. 11. Every self-knowing Christian who is wont with any seriousnesse to compare his returns to God with his receits from God will freely acknowledge that he is alwaies infinitely behinde hand with his Majesty therefore considering his former favourable providences to perswade obedience together with future precious promises to crown obedience we have all reason to call upon our selves Praise we the Lord and to say unto one another Praise ye the Lord. The second branch of my Exhortation follows which I have Branch 2 had principally in my minde and aim all this while To perswade your conscientious care to improve all Gods favourable providences unto the promoting and bettering of obedience according to his purpose and appointment I beseech you Rom. 12. 1. therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service If my Exhortation upon this ground be not reasonable lay it aside I speak as unto wise men judge ye what I say Beloved I am very serious in this my message being not only seasonable but of exceeding great concernment and shall be very unwilling to goe off with a deniall unto this my reasonable request which I make in the Name of God for your good Manifold examples might be produced to presse this Exhortation Motive 1. That double that treble resolution of Israel raised from this consideration is notable God forbid that we should
Josh 24. 14 16 vers 17. forsake the Lord for the Lord our God he it is that brought us up and our Fathers out of Egypt from the land of bondage and 18. which did those great signs in our sight c. Therefore we will also serve the Lord. And again when Joshua seemed by his words to suspect their 21. sincerity The people said unto Joshua Nay but we will serve the Lord. And yet once more Joshua putting them to it unto purpose The people said unto Joshua The Lord our God will we serve 24. and his voice will we obey But I will come lower then Israel professing dependance upon God The very Heathens wicked ones moved only by morall principles will requite kindenesses in respect to the law of retaliation If you do good to them which do good to you what thank have ye for sinners also do the same And yet in reference unto God I now request no more Doe but Christianly endeavour to answer Gods kindenesses with an obedientiall carriage and I call for no more I remember when cruell Saul plotting and practising Davids death was yet by Davids forbearance to slay him having power and opportunity so overcome that he brake forth into these words My son David I will no more do thee harm because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day 1 Sam. 26. 21. Gods long-sufferance and loving kindenesse to us-ward doth wonderfully exceed all that David either did or could expresse towards Saul He hath not only with-drawn his own revenging hand though we have infinite times provoked him to his face but he hath also held the bloudy hands of cruell men who have desired our death yea we doe not only enjoy safety but rich supplies of comforts from our God How much rather therefore should we resolve no more to dishonour God by our disobedience but to observe his statutes and to keep his laws 2. This gratefull obedience the Lord will graciously accept as a full contenting recompence for all his bounties When Moses had numbred up multitudes of blessings bestowed upon Israel he adds Deut. 10. 12 13. And now ô Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to walk in all his waies to keep his Commandments As if he had said this is all he will be satisfied with this he looks for no more O beloved how deeply are we indebted unto the most high God and yet such is his indulgence that upon sincere observation of his laws which by vertue of our being reasonable creatures we are bound to yeeld he will cast a quietus est a full acquittance into our bosomes But if this consideration cannot prevail with you yet I pray you consider on the other hand how unkindely the Lord taketh their disobedience towards whom he abounds in benefits How patheticall is that complaint of God himself against his Israel breathed forth by the Evangelicall Prophet Hear ô heavens and Isa 1. 2. give ear ô earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished 3. and brought up children but they have rebelled against me The 4 Ox knows his owner and the Asse his masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation In reference unto this lamentation which the Lord maketh over stubborn unthankfull ones I will only say thus much Have you not yet offended your God enough but will you proceed to grieve him still 3. This practising of Gods praises will be many waies beneficiall to our selves 1. It will render us wise in the account of all such who with any seriousnesse consider our great obligations unto God Keep therefore and do them for this is your wisdome and understanding in the sight of the Nations which shall hear of these statutes and say Surely this great Nation is a wise and understanding people For what Nation is so great who hath God so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for Deut. 4. 6 7. Is it not wisdome to observe him who secures our persons and comforts whose ever-waking and all working providence is for our good in every kinde And how can man more manifest his wisdome then by making Gods ends his ayme in every thing Now Gods end in the administrations of his love is That we may observe his statutes and keep his laws 2. This obedientiall improvement of Gods goodnesse will evidence the uprightnesse of our hearts Mark Davids argument which he pleads before the all-knowing God Psal 26. O Lord I have walked in mine integrity ver 1. For thy loving kindenesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth vers 3. Threats and blows drive hypocrites to duty but cords of love draw the gracious heart unto exact walking with his God 3. When former favours produce better obedience then may we boldly expect the multiplication of future mercies Moses having Deut. 29. specified some of Israels rich receits from Gods good hand from vers 2. to the 9th he thus concludes Keep therefore the words of this Commandment and doe them that ye may prosper in all that ye doe The self-seeking husband-man will cast precious seed with a liberall hand into a fruitfull soyl which is wont to return an answerable crop God hath the end of his bounties in our obedience And his promises to follow Deut. 28. 1-14 Lev 26. 1-12 and to fill them who are obedient with blessings of all sorts are manifold in the holy Scriptures 4. Many and heavy are the judgements threatned against them who continue stubbornly disobedient notwithstanding the sweet assaults made upon them by Gods gracious administrations That commination in Deut. 28. 47 48. hath often affected and affrighted my heart in reference to this trembling Kingdome Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulnesse and with gladnesse of heart for the abundance of all things mark that for the abundance of all things therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send upon thee in hunger and in thirst and in nakednesse and in the want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck untill he hath destroyed thee When Samuel had pressed the bettering of obedience by Gods remarkable works which is the very exhortation which I have now under hand he sets it on by the self-same Argument 1 Sam. 12. 24 25. Fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart for consider how great things he hath done for you But if ye shall still doe wickedly ye shall be consumed both ye and your King Beloved we know to our sorrow that both our King and his Kingdoms are in a wasting condition God forbid O God forbid that our continued disobedience should work our utter consumption and desolation This which I have said is sad and I have made mine own heart say by saying it yet that is much more lamentable which the Apostle Paul reports concerning
for himself Prov. 16 4. In them who are not obedientially conquered by his kindenesses he will be glorified Proud hard-hearted Pharaoh stubbornly withstood all the assaults of God made upon himself and his people both by plagues and deliverances yet God saith Exod. 14. 4. I will be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon his host And those who are made obedientially fruitfull by the showres and Sun-shine of divine indulgence they being filled with the fruits of righteousnesse are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God Phil. 1. 11. So that all administrations doe at last determine and center in the honour of the most high God who is the authour and orderer of them Yea beyond the duties of obedience the welfare and happinesse of them who are sincerely obedient both here and hereafter is ordained and intended by God himself as an end subordinate unto his own eternall praise Oh that there was such an heart in them saith the Lord that they would keep all my commandments alwaies that it might be well with them Deut. 5. 29. And the Apostle having provoked the believing Romans unto the work of sanctification addeth these words Ye have your fruit unto holines and the end everlasting life Rom. 6. 22. Having premised these cautions these propositions to prevent misapprehensions and that the meaning of my Text and Doctrine might be truly understood I proceed unto the Application thereof which is the second thing promised in the prosecution of the point The improvement of this seasonable instruction thus far unfolded Vse is that which I had principally in mine eye in the choice of this Text and I pray God so to assist me in this last and the greatest part of my Sermon that I may reach your hearts unto your edification and spirituall advantage All that I shall say by way of Use I will give in under these three heads 1. Information 2. Reprehension 3. Exhortation The two former sorts of Uses I shall dispatch quickly but I shall crave leave to enlarge the last because most profitable and most pertinent unto this Congregation and most conducing to promote the realizing of those praises which this day we present unto our God Hence it naturally and necessarily follows That the disobedience Information of those persons is most abominable and inexcusable who have been under the most and best administrations of the Almighty Such offenders doe not only violate the Laws of Soveraignty but of Amity Their neglects their miscarriages are not only undutifulnesses but unthankfulnesses and unkindnesses It is here considerable how the holy Ghost doth ordinarily cast this circumstance as a loading aggravation upon the sins both of Nations and persons to break their hearts in the deepest humiliation and to justifie God in his sharpest corrections Thus Samuel 1 Sam. 12. 6. sets upon unsubdued Israel 1 Sam. 12. 6. And Samuel said 7. unto the people It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord of 8. all the righteous acts of the Lord which he did to you and to your fathers When Jacob was come into Egypt and your fathers cried unto the Lord then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell 11. in this place c. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side and ye dwelled safe Here is the commemoration of mercies Now follows the sin therby aggravated And 12. when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you ye said unto me Nay but a king shall reign over us when the Lord your God was your king Beloved I may not spend time in paralleling these passages with Gods providences towards this poor Kingdom and this Kingdoms miscarriages towards the Lord. Do it your selves I pray you and I doubt not but the serious doing of it will be advantagious both in the advancing of our God and in the abasing of our selves before him Englands deliverances and mercies Londons deliverances and mercies have been more and greater then of other Kingdoms and Cities therefore Englands sins and Londons sins are more hainous horrid high provocations of the most high God And as the evils of a people are thus aggravated by the Lord so are the offences of particular persons also In this manner Samuel greatens the disobedience of King Saul 1 Sam. 15. 16. 1 Sam. 25. 16. 17. Then Samuel said unto Saul Stay and I will tell thee what the Lord said unto me this night When thou wast little in thine own sight wast not thou made the head of the tribes of Israel and the Lord anointed thee King over Israel And the Lord sent 18. thee on a journey and said Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites and fight against them till they be consumed VVherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord but 19. didst flie upon the spoyl and didst evil in the sight of the Lord I will not glosse upon this Scripture which might truly be applied unto many of the richest and chiefest rank in this City but I humbly beseech you to remember from what low and little beginnings the Lord hath advanced many of you and then reflecting upon your lives consider what account you can give unto his Majestie for your obedience or for your disobedience rather to his holy Commandments Yea this course God hath been wont to take with his own dearest servants to work them unto true repentance Davids scandalous fals are well known I might say they are ill known by too many who thence take encouragement to offend and I believe you are not ignorant of that course which his God took by Nathans ministery to present his sins as very sinfull in his own sight 2 Sam. 12. 7 8. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee king over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul And I 2 Sam. 12. gave thee thy Masters house and I gave thee the house of Israel 7. and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover 8. have given unto thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to doe evil in his sight 9. c. Herein herein lies the aggravation Wherefore hast thou Thou so preserved thou so preferred How canst thou answer this Give me leave to touch one instance more which I doe the rather adde because it concerneth men of mine own cloth and calling that you may be convinced We Ministers desire to aggravate our own faults by the self-same circumstances whereby we greaten yours Eli his sinfull indulgence to his wicked sons is notorious now mark how a Messenger from the Lord paints out this his
Gods judgement upon poor purblinde Heathens for their ingratitude in not living up to their light to their receits Rom. 1. 21. Because when they knew God it is meant of knowledge attained by Gods works they glorified him not as God neither were thankefull c. Wherefore God gave them up unto uncleannesse through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonour their own bodies between themselves vers 24. The penalty inflicted upon the immortall soul is the more heavy because of the souls excellency And meer torment upon the well-awakened soul is not comparably so grievous as it 's servitude to sinfull lusts Now this this judgment of judgements is incurred by not answering obedientially our receits from God And let none thinke to put this off by saying This concerned Heathens but we are Christians for consider I beseech you whether the danger be not hereby increased Is our light greater Have Gods works amongst us held forth more grace and glory Then questionlesse our disobedience will expose us to as great or greater judgements I have done with the Arguments prepared to enforce my Exhortation and I hope they have so farre prevailed with you at least with some of you as to move resolutions to make an obedientiall improvement of your experiences I now proceed to acquaint you with some few rules to direct this your obedience your reall thankfulnesse unto God with which I shall conclude And for brevity sake I will only mention such as issue naturally and necessarily from my Text and Doctrine 1. Therefore God should rather be obeyed then any man whatsoever I am farre from disswading dutifull observance unto lawfull Superiours of any quality or degree but I propound the Question of the Apostles Whether it be better to obey God or men judge ye Act 4. 19. 5. 29. Let him who doth most and greatest favours for us receive the largest and frequentest respects from us Give the chiefest attendance unto the best benefactour Now who or what is he that shall dare to stand in competition with God No doubt but Joseph Daniel Shadrach Meshach and Abednego had so much ingenuity as to acknowledge with gratitude their obligations unto their Superiours yet being acted by their stronger higher engagements unto God they refused to gratifie them in things displeasing unto his Majesty And I shall not need to tell you how farre the bestowings of God in quantity quality and variety doe transcend all that kindenesse which either hath been received or can be expected from any humane hand 2. Therefore we should obey God with our All. Both riches and honours come of thee and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all All things come of thee 1 Chro. 29. 12 14. Is it not reasonable that all which is received from the Lord should be imployed for the Lord You Merchants expect thus much in justice and equity from your factours beyond seas that whatsoever commodities you convey unto them should be disposed of to your advantage Now I pray you turn the Tables and deal you with God as you require men should deal with you Who doth not acknowledge strength in the Apostles argument 1 Cor. 6. 20. Glorifie God both in your body and in your spirit which are Gods Therefore if we grant the premisses it will be our weaknes to deny the Conclusion Consider what I say If any of you enjoy any wisdom strength authority estates parts interests opportunities which you received not from the Lord then refuse to lay them forth for the Lord. But let me appeal unto every individual soul here present in the Apostles words What hast thou which thou didst not receive 1 Cor. 4. 7. The inference therefore comes with force upon you Thou shalt love and consequently thou shalt obey the Lord thy God with all thy soul with all thy thought with all thy might Cum omni valde tuo O it is an unequall and unreasonable thing to make any deeds of reservation in our dealings with our God the God of all grace and of all consolations whatsoever 3. Therefore our obedience unto God should be tendered speedily For is not the Lord so farre beforehand with us in his favours that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at this very instant we are engaged obsequiously to submit unto his government Joshua having particularized to Israel ancient providences whereby God had expressed his care and kindenesse towards them and their fore-fathers he calls for service without delay Josh 24. 14. Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him Doe not any of you dare to put off God one day longer with procrastinations A father said that cras cras was corvina vox Delaies will breed guilt and bring danger Let us call to minde how much we were in Gods debt how farre in arrears before we began to pay one peny as it were in any humble holy hearty performance Therefore let us now now obedientially remember our Creatour our Protectour our Benefactour our God blessed for ever To day while it is called to day do not harden your hearts 4. Therefore in all waies of holy obedience we should walk humbly with our God Well may this alone abase our hearts that the excellencies of the Lord and the worth of his service should not be sufficient to work us unto dutifulnesse without a daily addition of fresh favours from his Majesty But when we compare our unanswerablenesse to Gods purposes expectations deservings it is strange that there should be the least conceitednesse in us in regard of any work at any time discharged If ever man had occasion to glory in his labours and adventures for Christ the Apostle Paul I thinke might be the man But he professeth Act. 20. 19. That he served the Lord in all humility of minde Now it is most apparent that besides other means whereby he attained and maintained this sweet humble frame of spirit this was one viz. That he had much in his eye his rich receits from Christ which he was no way able to requite And I am confident that by a serious wise paralleling that which God doth for us with that which we doe for him in regard of quantity quality variety and constancy the swelling of our hearts will be much abated 5. Therefore all our services for God should be the warm breathings of flaming love All the undertakings of St Paul for Christ seemed to be sparks arising out of this fire He speaking of labours losses hazards gives in this as the reason of all 2 Cor. 5. 14. For the love of Christ constraineth And when David had endeared his God to his heart by meditating upon his mercies Psal 116. 1. I love the Lord because he hath heard my supplication c. From thence did issue obedientiall resolutions I will call upon the Lord. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living Although God alloweth the use of other arguments to quicken obedience yet this of love should have the
preeminence 6. Therefore we should serve the Lord in truth because he hath done great things for us 1 Sa. 13. 24. This truth is opposed to seemingnes and falshood God doth not feed us with fair words We do not only hear of his bounties but we see touch taste enjoy the comforts of his good providences Let us answer our God with realities If any man only seem to be religious his religion is vain Jam. 1. As for those who content themselves with shews of godlines denying the power thereof they are abhorred by the Lord. Be not deceived for God will not be mocked According as every man sowes so shall he reap If you sowe the winde you shall reap the east-winde Be you well assured that Court complements frothy flatteries empty shews will not take with God Those who pay in good coyn will not be repaied with that which is counterfeit Let us not therfore dream of requiting Gods reall favours with meer formalities Let us not only love in word and tongue but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. 7. Therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity This sincerity is opposed unto selfishnesse Whereas the hypocrite centers Josh 24. 14. proudly in himself makes himself his last end his God Did ye not eat for your selves Did ye not drink for your selves Did ye Zech. 7. 5 6. at all fast unto me even unto me saith the Lord. The practice of God intending and effecting our good as truly as his own glory may well prevail with us to minde his praise in that which we undertake His gracious providences are for our comfort his holy Commandments are for our good therefore let not us sit down satisfied in serving our own turn by our services but let us move forward not resting till we come to this center Gods honour Whatsoever we doe whether in our generall or particular callings in commanding obeying in private or publike Let all be done unto the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 31. 8. Therefore we should observe Gods statutes and keep his laws continually This the Lord desires Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such an heart in them that they would keep my Commandments alwaies And this his Majesty well deserves For he daily loadeth us with his benefits Psal 68. 19. His unweariednesse in following us with favours should move us to follow him unweariedly in the waies of well doing If in the whole course of your lives you can finde one day or one hour wherein God doth not in one kinde or other doe you good then on that day in that hour suspend the serving of his highnesse We such is the sinfulnesse of our sinning hearts doe every moment of our lives give the most high God most just occasion to resolve to favour us no more but the Lord so admirable is his goodnesse doth every minute of time afresh engage us unto his obedience Therefore be not weary of well-doing but rather be alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. God forbid that it should be truly said of any of us That we began in the Spirit and did end in the flesh All these eight rules necessary truths and naturally deduced from my doctrine do concern every one in this great Congregation without any exception I cannot imagine from what seeming pretence any should dare to plead exemption from these directions and I pray God that no one of you may depart this Assembly without some obedientiall bents and resolutions upon your spirits But all my Sermon all my counsell doth most concern them for whom the Lord hath done most in waies most remarkable and glorious No City in the world hath been more magnified by divine providences then this wherein we are No people on earth hath been more enriched with temporall and spirituall provisions together then our selves Our God grant that our improvements obedientiall may prove in some good measure answerable Notwithstanding by vertue of the equity of my doctrine the Lord expecteth to be best served to be most advanced by them whom he hath most enriched whom he hath most advanced And therefore give me leave to tell you Right Honourable the Lord Major and Right worshipfull the Aldermen of this famous City that God deserveth and expecteth more from you then from your brethren For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom men have committed much of him they will ask the more Luk. 12. 48. As you are bound to be exemplary in exact endeavours To observe Gods statutes and to keep his laws So is it your duty in a speciall manner to take care that all others under your command be conformed to the Commandments of your God Magistratus est custos utriusque tabulae Right Honourable your Lordship hath for divers years been acquainted with my plain Ministery and I cannot say that I have lost any place in your affections by my plainnesse therefore I will take the boldnesse to direct my self in faithfulnesse unto you 1. Do not you dare through indulgence to spare the punishing of them who doe dare to cast Gods Commandments behinde their backs Could you hold your hands and connive at such who should go about to sleight the works which are raised and maintained for the safety of this City You heard in the opening of my Text That God would have his laws preserved from violence as the means of our preservation I once heard a plain dealing Preacher compare a remisse Magistrate unto the sign George on Horse-back who standeth all the year with his hand on the Sword but never strikes My Lord You have not received the Sword in vain Rom. 13. 4. Although I would not sharpen the edge of authority unto undue severity yet would I whet mine own knife to launce and let out the impostumated matter in my friends flesh I grant your Lordship must be cautious as couragious and therefore you have good reason to make Solomons prayer 1 King 3. 9. Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad But I beseech you remember withall That foolish pity spoils the City Let not common drunkards profane cursers and swearers brutish wantons and such like wicked ones escape that penalty which the Law hath appointed for them Phineas executed judgement and it was counted unto him for righteousnesse Psal 106. 30 31. 2. I call for your zeal against Popery that abomination which brings desolation Let your zeal move often inquisitions whether in some corners of this City there be not Idolatry in the use of the Masse lest through neglect of search that abomination be suffered But I move that in a speciall manner search may be made after Jesuites those unsufferable incendiaries who blow the coal of contention amongst brethren who have caused and doe continue the unhappy breach betwixt our King and Parliament our Soveraign and his Subjects I have heard a Story of a man who
passing by a tree which Nature was cleaving did thrust in his hand to increase the breach whereupon providence suddenly closing the breach did there hold the man by the hand as an act of revenge Though I dare not assert the truth of this Story yet I make this morall Doubtlesse there are Jesuiticall spirits who haunt these coasts who walk in this City and it is suspected by many that they have a speciall hand in some of the pamphlets published to increase the flames of unbrotherly divisions I heartily wish that they might be apprehended by some good hand to be made exemplary It 's reported that the Pythagoreans did set a note of infamy upon the number of two because it was the first which dared to depart from Unity Solomon saith He that soweth discord among brethren is an abomination to the Lord Prov. 6. 16. 19. And this reacheth more then Jesuites in this Kingdome yea in this City For how many make it their businesse to make breaches not only among private brethren but also between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland notwithstanding the solemn brotherly Covenant Now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ Ro. 16. 17 18. I humbly move cautiousnesse in regard of Malignants that those mischief-workers who now as report speaks are moving homeward may not inconsiderately upon too easie tearms be entertained and trusted It is my daily prayer that God would convert and pardon those who expresse the most malignity against the work of Reformation so happily begun amongst us and my soul saith God forbid that any who are sincerely changed should by our sournesse be sent back again into our enemies quarters Notwithstanding I must tell you Abundans cautela non nocet When Saul was come to Jerusalem he assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples but they were all afraid of him Act. 9. 26. Fals-hearted ones amongst our selves may doe us much more wrong then known adversaries at a distance And is it not a just ground of complaint made by our friends when foes who have forsaken City and Parliament shall make their peace at such easie rates that they suffer lesse in their outward estates upon their return then approved friends have done if their Assessements and voluntary contributions be considered I undertake not to direct in this case but I intreat God to make the Parliament and City wise and circumspect in this particular 4 I most earnestly importune your care for the better and stricter observation of the Sabbath and I heartily commend worthy Nehemiah as your patern of imitation in this practice The waies and courses whereby he witnessed his holy zeal in this kinde lie open in the History I shall not need to specifie them I beseech your Lordship to see to the suppression of buying selling and sporting upon the Lords day I have often thought upon a speech of that famous servant of Christ and Minister in this City learned humble holy publike hearted Dr Staughton which I had from him in private conference in those times when the Sabbath and the observation thereof was decried by the Prelates and profane sort of men His speech was this Should any man give up a Castle of such concernment to this Kingdome as the fourth Commandment is to the safety of Christian Religion he would deserve to die many deaths As you love the Lord and the life of Religion regard the Sabbath and let your heart and hand be against those doctrines and practices which tend to the profanation of it 5. I entirely Petition your utmost towards the compounding of our miserable divisions about Church affairs There are not only Congregations of Anabaptists Antinomians and Brownists in this City connived at but as it is commonly and credibly reported also companies of men who deny the Deity of Christ and divine authority of the Scriptures I remember that when Gallio was Deputy of Achaia there was insurrection made in Corinth against Paul and there were wofull confusions in the City but it is added Act. 18. 17. And Gallio cared for none of those things God forbid that either your Lordship or any other Magistrate in this City should be thus regardlesse of our present distractions When there was a great breach made in the ground by an earth-quake at Rome and notice was given that the gods would not be pacified except something of speciall worth was cast into the breach Marcus Curtius did cast himself in in love to his Countrey And I believe that there are very many amongst our selves in this City both Ministers and others who could be content to sacrifice their lives in this service to reconcile dissenting brethren For alas alas Doe not divisions threaten dissolution A Kingdom divided cannot stand My soul desires that London may in waies of truth and holinesse be like Jerusalem A City compact together or as others render the phrase A City that is joyned to it self together Psal 1 22. 3. For the effecting whereof I make it my last request that with all your might as God may be pleased to give opportunity you would promote the speedy setling and exercise of Church-government Were the Church blessed with the use of that Discipline which is according to the minde of Christ in this posture it would be terrible as an Army with banners Cant. 6. 10. By this means profanenesse would be crushed superstition suppressed errours checked Malignancy discountenanced the Sabbath better observed holy Ordinances more purely administred and our breaches well healed Here are motives enough to move every right bred son of Sion to set head heart and hand unto this work Conscientious zealous care in this kinde will contribute very much to your honour here and your comfort hereafter Good Nehemiah thus pleads for himself before the Lord having been industrious in this service Remember me ô my God concerning this and wipe not out my good deeds my kindenesses that I have done for the house of my God and for the offices thereof Nehem. 13. 14. Now in this case the counsell of Gods faithfull Ministers is to be considered The words of Artaxerxes are notable Ezr. 7. 21. Whatsoever Ezra the Priest the Scribe of the Law of the God of heaven shall require of you let it be done speedily Some it may be will catch at this sentence and say This discovers the drift of Presbyterian spirits you desire to exercise dominion over your brethrens consciences and therefore would have all things managed according to your minde But I must take the boldnesse to answer That this is a notorious slander For we petition nothing but that which in our consciences is according to the minde of Jesus Christ and professe our selves willing with the least and lowest of Saints to submit unto the Scepter of our Lord and Saviour not requesting favour in any thing repugnant unto the holy Scripture This is that advice which in faithfulnesse and with humility I present unto your Lordships consideration and I doe it with the more confidence because in all particulars it speaks the language of our solemn Nationall League and Covenant which should never be forgotten And now to conclude all I beseech you all both right Worshipfull Aldermen and right worthy Citizens to consider seriously how far my counsell directed to the Lord Major concerneth you every one O that God would give you all with one heart to say unto his Lordship as it was once spoken to Ezra to quicken a work of Reformation Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee Be of good courage and doe it Ezr. 10. 4 For my part I shall use no more words but those of David to Solomon relating to Temple-work 1 Chron. 22. 16. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with thee FINIS