come not in company with them yet if you must then rebuke them for any among their great friends kindred or any other by whom perhaps they have great gain to bear with swearing blaspheming deriding at religion or other vain communications plainly argues a great slavish fear to have possessed them Secondly another Cause of this may be an impotent love that is your love to God proves weak or lame There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear because fear hath torment Thirdly Unskilfulness in the Doctrine of self-denyal may prove a great Cause of this decay Whosoever doth not take up his Cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befal me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life dear to my self so I may finish my course with joy Fourthly A doubtful mind of Gods All-sufficiency and certainty to make up what damage may come through our care to his name and credit both in this life and that to come Gods All sufficiency is never so seen as in the time of greatest scarcity or under the highest straits Then stand still and see the salvation of the Lord and as Gods sufficiency is never so seen as then in like manner he is never so obliged as then When persons are suffering through his grace for his name-sake They shall lay their hands on you and persecute you and bring you before Rulers for my names-sake but I will give you a mouth and wisdome which all your adversaries shall not be able to gain-say Luke 21. 12. 13. CHAP. XVII Shewing that sinning through impatience under Offences is a certain mark of deep decay with Objections and Answers proving the degrees of anger and three Causes why Christians are impatient unto sin SIGN XVII VVHen at a small offence you are so impatient that you commit great sin It is not possible to live without offences giving or taking real or seeming and such is mans frailty in common that even under small provocations they are apt to yield to too deep an impression But for better understanding it may be necessary to make some Observation upon this Sign First As to the meaning of small Offences Secondly As to the kind of impatience here intended First By small Offences is meant either small with respect to the little occasion that is given perhaps but seemingly or if real yet so slender as it would be wisdome to wink at it and but folly to be moved by it Secondly Small as coming from the smallest occasions viz. earthly an error of life as to the things of heaven though small being that that is greater by many degrees than some error that may arise from the things of this life which by God are called the smallest matters A Christian may be easily read more or less strong or spiritual as he is more or less affected with the offences that this life minister to him Whereas there is envyings debate and strife among you are ye not carnal and walk as men 1 Cor. 3. 2. Now the kind of impatience here intended is for offences to be so moved or inraged as to run beyond the bounds of Gods alowance Be angry but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath Intimating a great aptness in persons when provoked to be so inraged as to continue and boyl in wrath seeking for revenge contrary to Gods counsel Be in malice as Children Object But it may be Objected whether an allowance of anger or impatience under provocation may not be Answ There is anger in good part and in bad part so to take offence or be angry or impatient as to thirst after personal revenge or requital surely is not good He that is so angry with his brother shall be in danger of Judgment for in their anger they slew a man and in their wrath they digged down a Wall cursed be their anger for it was fierce Gen. 49. 6 7. Here Impatience is taken in ill part and by Christians to be abhorred and avoyded it being not of that kind Exod. 32. 19. And Moses anger waxed hot full of zealous and sore displeasure not simply against their person but against their sin Thus God is said to be angry with his people when by their sins they provoke him Numb 11. 10. But Impatience and anger in ill part is such as runs out to the breaking the hedge of Government running into cursing swearing tumults fighting or brawling Object 2. But it may be again Objected that the Sign it self seems to give an allowance of great anger or impatience under great Offences for it saith When at a small offence you are so impatient that you commit great sin Answ Doubtless under great Offences greater displeasure may be manifested but let the growing heaven-born Christian set up his standard here that at no offence small or great he may dare at any hand to break down the wall in a word Be angry and sin not Ephes 4. 26. By this means we make our quarrel Gods whose vengeance is and he will righteously repay otherwise that is when impatience carries us into the path of sinning we make the quarrel our own and take Gods work from him and so incur his displeasure upon us The good Lord give in wisdome and strength to Christians here under all provocations whether great or smal in Church or Family from friend or enemy that they let patience have its perfect work rather to the suffering any wrong than committing the least sin how like our Head the Lord Jesus would this declare us to be Who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth yet when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered threatned not took it most meekly and committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Object 3. But it may be objected again whether by this Superiours as Governours Parents or Masters may or not be angry with their Inferiours Answ Yes and correct them to but it must be as their drinking was in Esthers time according to the Law of Gods allowance Read for our rule in this case and let us live and die by it Nehem. 5. 6 7 9. And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words then I rebuked the Nobles and Rulers saying It is not good that you do ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Heathen our enemies O let Christians make this their rule under all provocations to keep within the fear of God because of the reproach of the Adversary yea let your provocation be what it will or from whom it will friend or enemy child or servant them that have most cause or least cause still remember and keep to this it is better ten thousand times ten thousand patiently to suffer than impatiently to
by all that are about him Secondly You must hear as Gods Word Isa 66 2. 1 Thes 2. 11. Thirdly You must hear with attention and godly fear Isa 55. 2. Nehem. 8. 3. Luke 29. 48. And all the people were very attentive to hear him Fourthly In Hearing you must mix what you hear with faith Heb. 4. 1 2. But the word preached did not profit it being not mixt with faith in them that heard it 2 Chron. 20. 26. Fifthly You must receive what you hear in the love of God 2 Thes 2. 10. Psal 119 97. Sixthly and lastly You must hear with resolution to obey Deut 5. 27. Josh 1. 16. Now what must you do after Hearing First You must remember what ye have heard 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. Secondly That you may remember you must meditate upon it Josh 1. 8. Psal 1. 2. Thirdly of all the Sermons you hear pick out something most profitable and confer about it Mark 4. 10. Fourthly You must put into practise what you hear Eccles 9. 10. Jam. 2. 25. Luke 11. 2. I shall now hint three Reasons of this great Care thus to Assemble and hear Gods word and then proceed to the Thirteenth Sign First Because it is the great Ordinance of Conversion Secondly The means of a Christians growth and Sanctification Thirdly Negligence in it a great aggravation of Condemnaton CHAP. XIII Proving the state of such to be sad who assemble together more for fear of mans eye than Gods with four Discriptions how such may be known or know themselves with two Causes of this decay SIGN XIII VVHen you come to the Assembly more for fear of brethrens eye than Christs eye That is you are so indifferent as to coming that would none miss you nor question you for it you could well dispence with absence and that without any material hinderance 't is much to be feared that this decay prevails strongly with many professors who have neither hungring or thirstingat least at that early rate they once had and still doubtless ought to have were they not losing their relish to Ordinances and the fellowship that they have had with God through them for now they begin to cease looking at things with an eye of faith and have all or most of their recourse to things after an eye of carnal sense and so no fear holds them to the outward order of Gods House but what is taught by the precept of men and were they not lyable to censures both from the assembly and others who have taken notice of their being professors could as to the eye censure of Jesus Christ quit all wherefore the Lord said Isa 39. 4 13. For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their heart far from me note that it is far to many degrees alienated and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men it is from hence very evident that they though they did come together yet it was not from aright principle their person and their heart was asunder and God is pleased to note them out as people fearing him only with an outside fear therefore he will proceed to do a marvellous work upon them the Prophet Ezek. 33. 30 31. meets with such a people as are still a quarelling with the Prophets words and talking against him in the doors of their houses yet would say Come I pray and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord coming as his people come sit before him as his people do hear his word and with their mouth shew much love but their heart runs after covetousness So in the time of the Prophet Mal. 4. 3. there you have a description of a decaying and growing professor one is so weary that they are ready to throw all profession off crying It is in vain to serve the Lord and what profit is it that we keep his Ordinances at the same time those truly spiritual that feared Gods eye more than mans they spake the oftner one to another fearing him and thinking upon his name I shall give two or three descriptions how such may know themselves or be known and so pass to the next Sign First Such when by more or less weighty occasions they are hindered from the assembly you will not find them troubled whereas a truly growing Christian though hindered even by God yet he is thirsting hungering and thinks it long saying with David O when shall I come and appear before thee Psal 42. 1 2. Secondly Such may be known and know themselves by this they are of all others most apt to be discontented it is seldome but one thing or other troubles them and goes not as they would have it whereas the more spiritual dwells so much in charity with every one that they are ready to construe every thing to the best so neither much troubling nor much troubled Thirdly If any Schisme or faction rise you 〈…〉 these more apt than any other to close with it and so zealous for a while as passes but it holds not long Fourthly you shall find such very forward at propagating some lesser matters of Gods Law while the more weighty they themselves live strangers to a chief cause of all this is First large zeal but shallow judgment Secondly a too much prying into the wayes of others and too little into their own CHAP. XIV Shewing our state dying when we are more troubled at the decayes in our House than in Christs House with four marks to know when we are so dying SIGN XIV VVHen the decay in Christs House less troubles you than the decay in your own House This decay wherever found notes a man very far gone on the dying hand If trade decayes then nothing but complaining if loss by fire or sickness or death then all is out of order it breaketh their rest they cannot sleep by night disturbs their worships they cannot pray read or meditate by day It is evident with such the affaires of their own house lyeth nearer their heart than the affairs of Christs House far from a truly growing Chrian who is all out of order when it goeth not well with the Church of God Now by decay here in the Sign I would be understood of persons in Christ Jesus profession who dye in their zeal love and fear c. that begin to walk faintly after Christ Jesus flat to prayer to reading to hearing cold and careless to spiritual visitings one another seldome and little in spiritual talk when they meet together not now as once make it their trade business to be making the name of Christ great wherever they come but either say nothing or that that comes to nothing having no spirit or savour in it yet once was early at the Ordinances quickly troubled if things went amiss much joyed when all werein a holy Harmony but now being discovered to have lost most of their spiritual relish to those
SYMPTOMES OF GROWTH DECAY TO GODLINESSE IN LX. SIGNS OF A Living and Dying Christian With the Causes of Decay and Remedies for Recovery By Francis Smith Job 17. 9. But the Righteous will hold his way and he whose hands are pure shall encrease his strength Revel 2. 4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first Love LONDON Printed by G. Dawson for F. S. at the Elephant and Castle near Temple-Bar 1660. IMPRIMATUR William Jeffery Benjamin Morley Thomas Munck Joseph Wright TO Every Judicious and Considerate READER Christian Reader THere was never more need from the beginning of the Creation to this day for persons professing Godliness to enter into their Closets and to retire into their most secret Chambers there to Commune with themselves and most seriously and narrowly to search their hearts and try their wayes whether they be such as can abide the strictest and severest scrutiny according to the ballance of the Sanctuary and the Touch-stine of the Scriptures and it may be a Fiery Trial which is coming upon all the World to try them that dwell upon the Earth Let thâ—se things be seriously considered in such a day as this is wherein such a multitude of Professors of all sorts do abound who have enjoyed so long a time of peace and prosperity which are apt in themselves through our carnal hearts to lull us fast asleep in the bed of sloath and carnal Security and to be get a spiritual Lethargy in the Soul To awaken us and to provoke one another to this great duty let us call to mind our former dayes when we were first illuminated how great a zeal did then possess us what care what diligence that we might be found approved of in the sight of God who judgeth the hearts and tryeth the reins It is the sad complaint of discerning Christians this day and is there not a cause that there is a lamentable Decay and decrease of Godliness in the power and life thereof among professors This is a Lamentation and it shall be for a Lamentation It does therefore exceedingly concern all Christians of what rank soever seriously to search and examine their own hearts and to cry what have we done what is the matter surely the dispensation that is upon us at this day is to try and to purge and to make white that they which are upright might be made manifest when the Hypocrite and formal professor that cannot abide the tryal shall stumble and fall and the shame of their nakedness shall appear Our lot is certainly fallen in the last dayes upon whom the ends of the World are come and our Lord himself hath expresly foretold that in the last dayes among Professors iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold and that then the wise Virgins as well as the foolish will all slumber and sleep Mat. 24. 13. and 25. 1 2 3. So likewise the Apostle Paul fore-telling the evil of the last times sets down a black Catalogue of sins that will be found not among the prophane only as in all ages but in such persons having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3. beginning Formality and Security abounding among Professors is the sin and sign of the last dayes And herein we may discern gray and hoary hairs more than here and there upon the head of this old World We are fallen into the lees and dregs of time and the World the older it grows the worse declining now into its dotage Blessed is that Servant that in such a day as this is keeps his Garment unspotted and his conscience undefiled that hath his Lamp burning and his light shining and his Loyns girded and is alwayes expecting and prepared for his Lords coming Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing The design of this ensuing Treatise which we recommend unto thy serious perusal is to set forth the sad estats of a Dying and Decaying Christian shewing the Symptomes Causes and Cures of the Decay of Godliness Together with the Benefit and Means of the Growth and Increase of Godliness As thou maist see in the Title and Frontispiece of this Book A Subject certainly never more suitable and seasonable than at this day when as Godliness it self in the power and life of it is at so low an ebb and grows every day more than other into a sensible Decay and Consumption And therefore this Piece needs not our Commendation but a greater than we are hath Avouched this whose Wisdome and Authority we must adore A Word fitly spoken or spoken in season is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver For the Author by that acquaintance we have with him we judge him to be an experienced Christian and one who hath made it his business to discern the Signs of the Times and we doubt not but the savoury Christian upon the through reading of his Book will judge the same with us Reader we shall detain thee no longer in the Porch enter the House it self Come and see whether it perform not more than we speak Now the blessing of God go along with it and with thee in the reading of it and he that gives seed to the sower and blesseth the encrease thereof grant unto us all that we may remember our first wayes and do our first works and more abundantly that our last dayes may be our best dayes and our last works may be more than our first that we may be Trees of Righteousness of the Lords own planting that we may bring forth most and best fruit in our old age when all other Trees cease to yield their encrease In a word that we may not be found wanting nor too light when our Lord shall come again to Judge every man according to his Works Shall be the dayly Prayer of Thy Servants for Christs sake Henry Jessey Henry Denne John Gosnold To all that are called to be Saints especially my dear Relations in Yorkshire West-Riding Together with my Brethren and Companions in the Faith in and about the City of London Grace and Peace be multiplied My dear Fellow Travellers HOwever it is with you now as to your spiritual state I am bold to affirm that the dayes of your first Espousal as in themselves so in your own estimation were very happy and joyful dayes and you so afflicted for your own former Mis-doings and so affected with what gracious change God through his rich Grace then made that with all your might you did willingly render up your selves to Christ Jesus for your Saviour and with all free affection and humble submission chose him or rather closed with Gods own Appointment that this his Son should become your King to Rule you your Priest to make Attonement for you and also your Prophet to Teach you in a word your All in All Thus at the sight and sense of what Sin and Satan had been and what now Christ Jesus
Wilderness for there is no bread neither any water and our souls loath this light bread Here Gods own institution that once was welcome to them and being now they was mighty eager after it in so much that they could dispence with breaking a law to gather it as Exod. 16. at large proves where we read of its first institution this Manna that the Holy Ghost Psal 78. 25. calls Angels food they now loath and call light bread this Manna though Gods own appointment that fed them to the full and was to continue with them till they come to eat the old corne in the Land of promise Josh 5. 12. yet this they loath under its constant injoyment and wish for Egypts food again How zealous were persons in this age ten or twelve years ago when truth begun more clearly to break forth no cost or early pains mattered happy were they that could come soonest then were assemblies crouded good men incouraged to labor Gods name delightfully worshipped in so much that without wrong one might say since such dayes the Kingdome of Heaven have suffered violence and the violent take it by force is Gods hand shortned that such workings of heart are not now as was then is not now assemblies thin performances small seldome and late is it because God is a Wilderness to his people is it not because they surfeit under fulness Doth not many run too and fro that knowledge is increased and sons and daughters prophesie How then may this serve to rebuke that sloathful Spirit in any that are careless to assemble and calls on them to be restless with God till they are again restored to such a Spirit of zeal as they had in the dayes of their first Espousal lukewarmness here being that inlet sin to spiritual spoiling disappointing God of gratious opportunities to inrich them and thorow this neglectance offers daring occasion to the Devil to tempt them Doth not the holy Apostle Rom. 10. 14 15. plainly imply an impossibility of believing in him of whom they have not heard And how shall they hear saith he without a Preacher as it is written how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things doth not this saying in so many words declare the reason of perishing to be want of knowledge Hos 4. 6. And the cause of ignorance the want of preaching How doth this then commend Gods high approbation of assembling it being the proper season for preaching Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name In an evil time when many grew weary and said it is a vain thing to serve the Lord what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances and walked mournfully before him then such as met often were high in Gods account Alas alas is not preaching though accompanied with never so much inward and outward pains-taking then matter of scorn to standers by who live vainly also a joy to the Devil our grand adversary when few attend it and of those most part flat low indisposed and weary having little spiritual life or vigor in them on whom common custome to assemble hath eaten out the spiritual relish that should be in them but I shall close this with Gods counsel Heb. 10. 24 25. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as we see the day approaching For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin Doth not this dismall conclusion ver 26. proffer it self as the most probable end of such as cease to assemble and makes way for their fearful and inevitable ruine shall any dare then to content themselves with light excuses to hinder their assembling and not rather provoke and exhort one another to so good a work I shall conclude this first Sign of dying to Christ with offering briefly three Remedies how it may be removed where begun or prevented where like to come First consider and lay to heart That to assemble is a very weighty duty and requires all your heart Isa 35. 3. Encline your ear come unto me hear your souls shall live see Prov. 8. 34 35. Blessed is the man that heareth me watching dayly at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors for who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Plainly noting that diligent hearkning which cannot be without assembling is the way to life therefore not to be slightly looked at Acts 3. 23. Every soul that will not hear this Prophet shall be cut off from amongst the People Persons may think it a light thing to forbear hearing and an offence onely to the assembly but God will count it a despising him and the means he hath ordained The Chrildren of Ephraim being armed and carrying bows turned back in the day of Battel they kept not Gods Covenant but refused to walk in his Law therefore the Lord heard this and a fire was kindled in his wrath against Jacob For their hearts was not right with God Let us take heed therefore that we refuse not him that spake from Heaven but as we must consider that it is a weighty duty to assemble so it requires that we come with all our hearts this God calls for and where it is wanting performances will not be acceptable This people draw nigh me with their mouths and honour me with their lips but their heart is far from me Isa 29. 13. it is Gods complaint by Jeremiah Juda hath not turned to me with her whole heart but fainedly with a heart and a heart a heart as much a contrary way as that way they were indifferent as willing not to turn as to turn this makes offerings to be abhord the contrary by Christians must be made at Blessed are they that seek him with their whole heart Psal 119. 25. Lesse then the whole heart begets jarring prevents harmony hinders the spiritual building A second Remedy is to consider that it is not possible to prevent this spirit of indifferency but by continuing as industruous to keep what ye have gained as you were to get it the prayers the teares the searchings of heart the attentive hearing and frequent assemblings that you in order to your first Espousal did diligently follow you must still hold on in that you may keep and increase the same for the promises run in no other channel Prov. 2. 4. If thou seek for wisdome as for silver and search for it as for hid treasure Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God Hos 6. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the
of his burthen were so unsensible that God complains against them Amos 6. 6. They were not grieved at the affliction of Joseph they were so far from easing him or freeing themselves from provoking of God to bring them into such like trouble that they were not so much as grieved had no burthen upon them were therefore fit matter to be indeed deservedly brought themselves into the like condition a most remarkable and profitable example if heeded by Christians we have to this very purpose in Daniel that holy man Chap. 9. vers 2. when he understands by reading that there were a number of years for Jerusalems captivity how was he burthened that he might know it is evident if you read but what he did vers 3. I set my face to seek the Lord God by prayer and supplication with fasting and sack-cloth and ashes behold here a gracious pattern for Christians that want to know great things from God Daniel sets his face unto the Lord with such qualifications attending this performance as though Daniel would be content with no denial so Chap. 10. 2 3. A thing was revealed to Daniel but the time appointed was long In those dayes I Daniel was mourning three full weeks I eat no pleasant bread neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth till three whole weeks were fulfilled That such manner of burthen and trouble as this at the sense of ones ignorance is not only the way to get profit but indeed a most acceptable way with God and so liked as to speed presently Let us see then what is written in Dan. 9. 23. At the Beginning of thy supplication mark that the Commandment came forth and I am come to shew thee therefore understand the matter and consider the vision Had not Daniels supplications fasting sackcloth ashes proved a prevailing cause with God to send an Angel to make him understand Wherefore serves this thus written At the beginning of thy supplication so Chap. 10. 12. An Angel said in a vision Fear not Daniel for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and chasten thy soul before thy God thy words were heard and I am come forth because of thy words Doth not all this call upon Christians to do three things First to get a mighty sense of their ignorance which is the grand cause they do not profit Secondly to be greatly burthened that it is so with them Thirdly to set their faces towards the Lord God by prayer and supplication without ceasing both to be and to abide otherwise Is not the Prophet Daniels Writing for our learning and to encourage us to take the same course God sorely dislikes the contrary Isa 32. 9. Rise up ye women that are at ease not troubled or burthened hear my voyce ye careless Daughters and be troubled Thus much may serve to inform a willing mind how to get from under the power of this Dying Sign of indifferency to Assemble and so pass to the second third and fourth Signs of Dying to Christ in which I shall be somewhat brief they having some kind of dependance upon this first Sign CHAP. II. Containing three Causes of weariness to spiritual Worship and the principal Reasons thereof SIGN II. VVHen in your purest Worship you are quickly weary It is possible to come to this pass at but a seeming occasion and persons create some kind of pretence why they are weary if it happen that at some time they are not so particularly and personally concerned in that part of Gods Worship where they are present It so falling out that the matter God is intreated about they are not so at want in or what is preached they to some considerable degree are informed in already This may fall out in numerous Congregations where different conditions ministers different occasions as to the manner of carrying on their Worship and though at such a time for a growing Christian there is no room to be weary he being as well delighted occasionally to hear or pray over again what he knows as he is to hear what he knows not in the one he takes occasion to praise for what was in the other to praise for what is yet declining persons will in such a case as this when they are not so nearly concerned take advantage not only to be weary but from hence plead their justification so to be but this Sign speaks to persons under a further consideration such as in their purest Worship are quickly weary in their most intimate private personal closet performances retired from company and set to the most intimate Worship of God in fasting praying self-examining and the like yea from a sense of mighty Need drawn to this and yet quickly weary must needs argue them deep in this decay and that in such there is a very strong combate who shall now gain the field they being a weary in their purest Worship It is evident hence that the enemy hath got more than ordinary advantage and strikes now at the very root of their Religion aiming at once as it were to make a speedy end and puts such Christians instead of Worshiping faintly to cease Worshiping at all its high time therefore at the first sight of such declining which in our dayes is not the portion of a few for surely surely many there are in Churches that in their purest Worship are quickly weary I say again its high time that those that find the case thus with them do even like the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonah They beleived God proclaimed a fast from the greatest to the least Jonah 3. 5. Even so let such go to their knees humble themselves and cry mightily that they perish not Now the Causes of this decay seems to be these three First Self-conceitedness that they know enough Secondly Luke-warmness in their Religion Thirdly Unaptness to personal Duties Which may serve as helps to remove it where begun or prevent it where like to come First Self-conceitednesse that they know enough Now this comes to pass either First Through ignorance of what they ought to know or Secondly Through Carlesness to put in practise what they do know Let the Law of God as the Law of a Nation be never so plain in it self lâ—â—d down yet without studious industry to understand what is Gods own injunction we may remain ignorant of the same and that ignorance prove a sin to us it being the effect of sloathfulness contrary to Prov. 2. beginning If thou seek for wisdome as for silver and search mark that for it as for hid treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the Knowledg of God Psal 1. 2. Secondly Through carelesness to put in practice what they do know persons are very apt to complain of their ignorance of plain duties yea as though they were holden and hindred when as all experience speaks the only way to know more is to put in practice what we do know already Thou oughtest
reconciled to thy brother Mat. 6. 12. For give us our debts as we forgive our debters but if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive ye your trespasses A fifth Let is despairing doubts of being answered Jam. 1. 5 6. If any man lack wisdome let him ask it of God that giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him but let him ask in saith nothing doubting for he that wavereth is like a wave of the Sea driven with the wind and tossed let not that man think he shal receive any thing at the hand of the Lord whatsoever ye shall ask in my name believe that you shall receive it and ye shall receive it Mark 11. 24. We shall now speak of Helps to prayer or saith some I would but I cannot pray I want words all that I can do is to sigh for a Help to this First labour to get a feeling of the necessity and excellency of Prayer so as that thy heart goeth under a grievous burthen because thou canst not pray Jer. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they are not grieved Here the Prophet complains that though Israel are stricken smitten and afflicted yet they have not grieved clearly implying that a grieved burthened state at the sense of want is a fair step in the way to obtain supply Psal 38. 4 6. For mine iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burthen they are too heavy for me I am troubled I am bowed down greatly cast thy burthen upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee Psal 55. 22. Secondly study much how to get deep sense of your great wants of Gods daily help All my springs are in thee without me you can do nothing For in him we live move and have our being Acts 17. 27. 28. Thirdly Consider God hath provided no way for you to acquaint him with your wants but prayer and if you cannot pray how will you make your complaints to God Phil. 4. 6. In every thing by Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God 2 Chron. 26. Vzzia sought God in the dayes of Ezra and as long as he sought the Lord God made him to prosper call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 50. 15. Hos 5. 15. Fourthly consider that all your outward mercies becomes blessings through Prayer 1 Tim. 4. 5 6. For every creature of God is good if it be reeceived with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the word of God and Prayer Give us this day our daily bread When Jesus had made the multitude sit down upon the ground he looked up to Heaven and gave thanks or said grace as the old translations read it Fifthly Consider what a miserable condition will yours be if cast into the Lyons Den Whales Belly or stocks if you cannot pray They poured out their supplications when thy chastening was upon them Sixthly Intreat Jesus Christ to teach you to pray Luke 11. 1. And it came to pass as he was praying in a certain place when he ceased one of his Disciples said unto him Lord teach us to pray as John also taught his Disciples as the Lord commands us to do so he must help us to Pray Zech. 36. 37. CHAP. VIII Shewing the great Decay to Christianity when mindless to Reading and Meditation in the holy Scriptures with six Calamities very observable which Scripture Ignorance brings SIGN VIII VVHen Reading and Meditation in the holy Scriptures is not delightful but burthensome unto you When Israel was pleased to chuse them a King God is pleased to set him his work lest they lose their end and God lose his honour And it shall come to pass when he shall sit upon the Throne of his Kingdome that he shall write him a Copy of Gods Law in a book and it shall be with him and he shall read therain all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God that his heart he not lifted up above his brethren In like manner when Joshua enters upon the Government he hath this charge from God that the Book of the Law should not depart out of his mouth but he must meditate therein day and night that he might observe to do according to all that 's written then should he make his way prosperous and have good success And when King David declares who is the blessed man He is one that delights in the Law of the Lord making it his meditation day and night This premised discovers most pretious worth attainable through Scripture reading with meditation and if need were might call for a multitude more witnesses both from Scripture and Experience But it being not so much my proper work to assert Scripture Excellency as to show and prove that Christian to be dying to Christ that is not delightfully taken up with Meditation and Reading in his Word I shall therefore proceed in a plain method Thus where delight to Reading and Meditation grows low there negligence to Reading and meditation must needs grow high there decay grows great such must decline in their spiritual estate this negligence bringing with it much ignorance and so covers the eyes and hearts of such as with a vail so as that they cannot so see as the spiritual growing man sees Gods Precepts how they command him Gods promises how they uphold him Gods threatnings how awfully they perswade him the Scripture being his Treasury or Store-house from whence he is made able through the spirits help to withstand the fiery darts of the wicked one saying after Christ Jesus his Captain thus and thus it is written It is evident to the meanest capacity that doth but consider how great incapacity all such must needs be in to understand and resist the manifold temptations and wiles of the evil one except they be well acquainted with Gods holy Word that hath in it Armour for the whole man with directions how to put it on and it becometh thus excellent for that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished to all good works 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. Ignorance therefore here must make sore desolation and bring as I humbly conceive upon persons these six Calamities First It makes you in a wilderness when sickness and affliction comes because you will not know how and why they come Sickness and Affliction are of two sorts inward and outward Inward are such as seize upon the mind as a judgment caused upon the person where they come Isa 6. 9 10. And he said go and tell this people hear ye indeed but understand not see ye indeed but perceive not make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes
lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and convert and be healed So Rom. 1. 21 28. Because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkned And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness Now such fore judgments as these are come upon and procured by many who turn the grace of God into wantonness professing to be most spiritual live as the almost most carnal little minding because greatly ignorant of those spiritual causes they may run into to the bringing upon themselves such spiritual judgments or sicknesses and afflictions as these And indeed how comes it to pass that such afflictions are not feared before they come to the provoking such to walk so as may prevent their coming but ignorance of the Scripture they not conversing often with them to the well informing themselves what judgments may come on their minds and what are the Causes God assigns of their coming so as to be in trembling and dread continually to the keeping themselves out of that channel where such bitter waters runs Again there are outward sicknesses and afflictions and they are such as these Deut. 28. 58 59 60. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this Book that thou maist fear this glorious and fearful Name the Lord thy God Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed even great plagues and of long continuance sore sicknesses and of long continuance Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt which thou was afraid of and they shall cleave unto thee Levit. 26. 15 16. If ye shall despise my Statutes or if your soul shall abhor my judgments that you will not do them but that you break my Covenant I also will do this to you I will even appoint over you Terror Consumption and the burning Ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart and ye shall sow your seed in vain for your Enemies shall eat it But I shall speak fully to the Causes of Affliction in the Twenty second Sign and therefore proceed no further here but come to the second Calamity that Scripture Ignorance brings Secondly That your uneven walking with God may bring upon your selves death before its time This Particular is proved thus Long life promised to the obedient Exod. 20. 12. Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Also Deut. 32. 46 47. Set your hearts to all the words which I testifie among you this day command them your Children for it is not in vain because that through this thing mark that ye shall prolong your dayes in the Land whither ye go over into Jordan to possess it This is also proved by the contrary which comes upon the disobedient Deut. 11. 16 17. Take heed to your selves that your heart be not deceived and ye turn aside and serve other Gods and then the Lords wrath be kindled against you and ye perish quickly from off the good Land which the Lord giveth you Eccles 8. 13. But it shall not be well with the wicked neither shall he prolong his dayes which are as a shadow because he feareth not before God So Chap. 7. 17. Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish why shouldst thou die before thy time Thirdly By means of Scripture Ignorance you cannot know to ask in faith the things you want for soul or body that is you will not know where to be absolute or positive in your asking and whereto be submissive and conditional in your asking Now the Scripture gives directions as to the putting up Petitions to God and men may easily err by not observing them Gen. 32. 26. And he said to wit the Angel Let me go for the day breaeth and he answered to wit Jacob I will not Let thee go except thou bless me So Exod. 32. 12. Wherefore should the Egyptians say for mischief did he bring them out to slay them in the Mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people So Acts 12. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing unto God for him By these Scriptures we may observe that to be conditional or indifferent in our asking when God may be dishonoured by denying is not good therefore in this case may a man coming in Gods way be bold to ask pardon of his sins peace to his conscience power over his corruptions without condition in such case Gracious and humble resolutions to have no denial greatly liketh God and suits with his will Isa 62. 6 7. I have set Watchmen upon thy walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night you that make mention of the Lord keep not silence till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth But observe in all cases Petitions putting up must not thus be framed Acts 21. 14. And when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done So Rom. 1. 9 10 For God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of his Son that without ceasing I make mention alwayes of you in my prayers making request if by any means I might now at length have a prosperous journey by the will of God mark that to come to you So Jam. 4 15. For that ye ought to say if the Lord will we shall live and do this or that I shall leave this to consideration and proceed to the fourth Calamity Fourthly Negligence to Reading and Meditation will make you ignorant wherein you may prevent the presence and comforts of Gods holy Spirit that is that God may either take away his spirit from striving with you or you away from his spirit My spirit shall not alwayes strive Gen. 6. 3. 1 Sam. 16. 14. But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him Psal 51. 7. Take not thy holy spirit from me Neh. 9. 30. Yet many years didst thou for bear them and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy Prophets yet would they not give ear Therefore gavest thou them into the hands of the people of the Land But they rebelled and vexed his holy spirit therefore was he turned to be their enemy and fought against them By these Scriptures we may see that the holy Spirits company may be put away from us through ungracious
to pouder Exod. 32. So Phineas in his zeal to the Lord when he saw the evils that were committed in the Camp arose and slew both the man and the woman and so the plague was staid But secondly want of becoming love to others eternal welfare is a Cause of our not sorrowing at their sinnings that good man Jeremiah chap. 13. 17. If they will not hear but persist in their evil way his soul shall weep in secret places for their pride See this also in Jesus Christ that had such love to perishing Jerusalem That when he was come near and be held the City he wept over it Luke 19. 41. As Remedies against this decay First consider what a wide breach it makes in our spiritual state and whither in a little time it will bring us Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will sight against them with the sword of my mouth Revel 2. 16. Secondly In order to removing this do as men do that have a desperate mortal disease growing upon them if not speedily remedied how will they go and run pray and pay leave no stone unturned no means unattempted Even in like sort must spiritual diseases be looked at and laboured with Seest thou a man diligent he shall stand before Kings and not mean men Prov. 22. last Wash me throughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin Psal 51. 2. CHAP. XI Shewing that unsavoury talking among Christians when they meet proves them earthly minded with three Causes of this Decay SIGN XI VVHen in your comings together your talk is not savoury and heavenly Upon various occasions Christians meet together sometimes with those that are wringing their hands for sorrow sometimes with those clapping as it were their hands for joy sometimes at the Assembly sometimes at one anothers dwellings Now all comings together ministers occasion of Talking and will greatly evidence where most is each others Treasure it being natural for persons when they meet by their voyce to express what is the workings of their mind And as the heart is more or less heaven-ward so certainly will their talk bend more or less that way Earthly minded men when they meet will be carrying on their trade counting it matter of duty to promote what lyeth nearest their hearts so those that decay to spirituals having begun to affect themselves with new Lovers and so losing the sense they once had to the best things may be discerned now to have changed for the worst by their unsavory earthly talking and how advantagious all meetings are to the promoting whatsoever it designed none is able to express but such as experimentally make a view of it well considering That evil communications corrupt good manners or lessens a mans hold to the best things and when that pretious time in Christians meetings together is so spent that its rather spilt like water upon the ground such leaving no savour of grace behind them must needs argue that they are falling if not fallen from their first Love besides the dishonour done to God great hath been the wrong such have done both themselves and their adherents in publick or private assembling What more unpreparing the heart and indisposing the affection to the spiritual worshiping of God then either before hand being in a carnal slepy posture or else in such unseasonable if not worse talking some of their Farms others of their Merchandise nay perhaps backbiting and whisperingly opening the infirmities of others to the sowing prejudice in the hearts of those that through ignorance weakness incline to hear them whereas on the contrary such whose minds are alwayes carrying about with them the contemplating of Gods end in giving opportunity after opportunity puts themselves with trembling care into such imployment of still getting or doing good as may obtain from their gracious God the approbation of redeeming time see that good Nehemiahs practise for this he no sooner meets Hanani but what I asked concerning the Jews that had escaped which were left of the captivity and concerning Jerusalem he is inquiring presently how it fared with the people of God and Jerusalem the City of David and place of his Fathers Sepulchre and full near his heart their welfare lay as appears by his hearty affection and affliction at the evil tidings Chap. 1. 4. And it came to pass when I heard these words that I sate down and wept and mourned certain dayes and fasted and prayed before the Lord God of heaven I shall add another text and then proceed to the Causes of this decay Mal. 3. 16. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another but their talking was so savoury and so heavenly that the Lord hearkened and heard it yea and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name Now the Causos of this Decay which being avoyded may also serve as Remedies against it and they are three First Long custome to Christian Meetings Secondly Uunskilfulness in Gospel Self-denial Thirdly Negligence to a plain duty First Long custome to Christian Meetings though this be not in it self a Cause yet it may be easily so converted for without a godly jealousie over the heart in often meeting with Christians the very custome of it will by little and little steal away that spiritual vigour that ought to run in the veins of every one where ever they are to the making their being as much as possible to Gods honour and their souls edifying for custome begets such an aptness to any service that except the heart be still examined persons will be in meetings together very destitute both of suitable preparation and answerable expectation and all through long custome for as in sinning it will take away in time the conscience of sin so in the best performances it will rob a man of that forehand care that should attend him unless he be much upon his watch Secondly A second Cause is Unskilfulness in one great point of Christianity viz. Gospel self-denial which stands in a conforming the whole man to be alwayes pleasing and serving the Lord such knowing themselves not to be their own but bought with a price and therefore whether eating drinking talking walking to be doing all to the glory of God whose they are Now unskilfulness herein will be still carrying on all affairs with much mixture partly in designing the Lord partly designing self having not so learned to live upon anothers bottome as the Gospel grace of self-denial teacheth Mat. 16. 24 25. Mark 6. 34 35. by which means many are at a great stand how to spend this and that opportunity and so instead of asking their fellow Christian how he grows or stands affected to the best things what temptations are upon him when at what times he findes himself most weak and unable to resist And whether often in closet prayer watchings fastings and what assurance he hath from some solid marks whether he
grows yea or nay and what value he puts on fellowship with God and injoying the light of his countenance what all this is and what its worth when it shines when it s clouded but if instead of such Communings as these time be vainly spent in hearing and telling some new thing complaining rather of hard times than hard hearts this and the other outward loss instead of true losing if the case be thus it must needs proclaim you dying Christians for that in your comings together your talk is not savoury and heavenly Thirdly A third Cause may be this Negligence to a plain duty Heb. 10. 24 25. And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhort one another dayly while it is called to day that is certainly to be upon doing the work of the day and so much the more as you see the day appreaching Clearly impying that we should be so far from neglect to spiritual and profitable talking when we meet that it should be our care so to consider one another wherein they begin to grow faint weary flow remiss and wantiâ—g as to be provoking or seeking occasion to pâ—rswade and put forward such to that thâ—t they ought not to be backward in This was the trade of Gods Children as you may read Acts 15 36. And some dayes after Paul said to Barnabas Let us go again and visit our Brethren in every City where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they do Acts 18. 27. Who when he was come helped them much which had believed through grace This certainly is as true in Paul and Barnabas as in Apollo let then I pray you what hath been said in this Sign serve for caution thus far that you will all be careful when you feast when you fast when you sit by your fire walk by the way lie down rise up for the avoyding precious times mispending to be talking of the Lord and his Laws consider what you read and pass to the next CHAP. XII Proving Vnpreparedness to hear the Word of God a Sign of Dying to Christ with three sorts of Hindrances which must be laid aside and what must be our work before Hearing in Hearing and after Hearing SIGN XII VVHen you are so little prepared for the solemn Assemblies that they come before you think of them or long for them When Persons suffers themselves to be so taken up with common or worldly business as that they leave no room for solemn Prayer and Preparation to meet in Gods Ordinances at dayes appointed it s an evident token of little reverence besetting the heart and as little consideration who they are to meet Now to come before the Lord in his Assembly where he is wont to be and hath promised to be there doubtless remains a work upon us to be done by us by way of Preparation and that because of Gods presence being there as in the Temple the Type of Gods Assembly or Gospel Church Kings 1. 3 9. I will put my Name there and my heart and my eyes shall be there perpetually his power presence and goodness shall be there and he ever was and is wont to meet his People there Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth where thou feedest and makest thy flocks to rest at even if thou knowest not go thy way and feed thy Kids by the shepheards tents Cant. 1. Now that great preparation as to this and that by way of duty ought to be will appear by what may follow want to prepare therefore must needs be a character of spiritual decay and the rather if we consider how strict the Lord was as to them that drew nigh him when he gave out the Law Exod. 19 10. And the Lord said unto Moses go and sanctifie the people to day and to morrow and let them wash their cloaths and let the Priests also which come near to the Lord sanctifie themselves lest the Lord break forth upon them Nadab and Abihu for not sanctifying the Lord when they drew nigh him there went out a fire from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord Levit. 10. 2. Most remarkable is that passage in good Joseph Gen. 41. 14. Before he will come into the Kings presence he shaves himself changeth his rayment layeth aside his prison garments How much rather should those prepare and lay aside that come into the presence of the King of Kings Hear the word of the Lord ye that tremble at his word Isa 66. 5. Persons may hear from day to day and remain much like the same rather worse than better which must needs argue some defect in themselves by unduly approaching near so solemn a Service I shall therefore in humility offer some Directions what we may do in order to our profit before hearing in hearing and after hearing First Before Hearing pray God bless his Word unto you and lead you in his way Psa 25. 4 5. Shew me thy way O Lord teach me thy path lead me in thy truth Teach me for thou art the God of my salvation on thee do I wait all the day Exod. 33. 15. If thy presence go not with me carry us not up hence This is as true in one case as another Secondly Go to the Assembly with reverent considerations that you are to meet God Amos 4. 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee O Israel and because I will do this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel King Rehoboam did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord 2 Chron. 12. 14. compared with Chap. 19. 3. There are good things found in thee in that thou preparest thy heart to seek God Thirdly Before you go to hear you must lay aside all superfluity 1 Pet. 2. 1. Wherefore laying aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness receive with meekness the ingrafted Word There are three sorts of Superfluities to be laid aside which else will hinder you from profitting First All those doubtful carping cares for the things of this life you are incident to Mat. 13. 22. Mark 4. 19. Secondly You must lay aside all those vexatious frets of this life you are incident to Judges 16. 16. compared with 1 Sam. 1. 6 7. Thirdly You must lay aside all those pleasant pleasing pleasures of this life you are incident to Psal 45. 10 11. All or any of these being carried with us and heeded by us will so load us that there will be no room for the Word to profit Fourthly When you come to hear come with hungring and thirsting Mat. 5. 6. Psal 42. 1 2. The second Direction as to Hearing is what you must do in the time of Hearing First You must hear with reverence as Gods Embassage Psal 2. 11. compared with 89. 7. God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints and to be had in reverence
sin and suffer too by the one others do us wrong by the other we do our selves wrong St. Paul meets with some Christians in the Corinth Church under this Dying Sign 1 Cor. 7. 6. Brother goeth to Law with Brother and that before the unjust too He prescribes the Remedy that they rather take wrong though from Brethren and suffer themselves to be defrauded The Proverb is worth our heeding in this kind it will not countervail our cost better patiently take the wrong than with sinning seek our right I shall now come to two or three Causes of this Decay which being observed and avoyded may also serve as Remedies against this decay or dying Sign First the first Cause is want of Government over our own spirits Secondly Too high esteem of worldly Injoyments Thirdly Cumbring our selves with any business For the first viz. Want of government over our own spirit that is not being Lords over our own passions having them at our Christian beck when to be angry and to what degree Ignorance of our bounds here makes us Beast-like I were envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked saying I have washed my heart in vain and cleansed my hands in innocency Psal 73. So foolish and ignorant was I even as a Beast before thee He that hath no Rule over his own Spirit is like a City without walls and broken down Want of government over our own spirit makes us as naked or desolate as an unfortified City whose walls are broken down Prov. 25. 28. Secondly Too high esteem of worldly Injoyments He that will hardly be moved at a bigger thing will not easily be moved for a pin All offences are a kind of loss being something that crosseth the grain of our spirit now answerable to the estimation we have more or less of our loss will our offence taking be It is putting too high a value of earthly Injoyments as Husband Wife Children House or Land Gold or Silver that makes us so impatient at their loss or leaving Set your affection saith St. Paul on things above not on things below The time is short it remaineth that they that have Wives be as though they had none and they that weep as though they wept not and they that buy as though they possessed not 1 Cor. 7. 29. The Apostle would have them to carry about with them their outward Injoyments as a Traveller carries his old Coat about with him every day thinking to throw it of and if he loose it or be robbed of it doth not much trouble himself for he sets little value upon it Would Christian Travellers seek to soar high in their affections how little would this little little worldly pelf seem to us in our getting or losing Thirdly A third Cause of our Impatience and a third Remedy against it is to avoyd much cumbring our selves with any business that is a filling our hands too full over-charging our selves taking more upon us than we are able to mannage with submission to better things and so hinder meditation and contemplation about those lasting things of heaven which occasions a freezing of the spirits and so we sin and fall at every little trouble that comes in our way whereas a joyful spirit that is inlarged and at liberty Bears all things believes all things endures all things is not easily provked as 2 Cor. 13. at large shews All this while a spirit cumbred is in bondage and quickly fretted like a scald head soon broken Take heed lest at any time your heart be over-charged Luke 21. 34. I would have you be without carefulness 1 Cor. 7. 32. Martha Martha thou art troubled and cumbrest thy self about many things but Mary hath made choice or busied her self about that good part that shall never be taken from her Luke 10. last Consider what you read and the good Lord give you understanding Amen CHAP. XVIII Proving those Christians to be almost dead that make it more their business to get the Form than the Power of Religion with its Causes and Remedies SIGN XVIII VVHen you are more careful to get the words of Christs People than the spirit of Christs People the Form than the Power That is the name and out-side of Reformation rather than the spirit and power of Reformation when the strength and bent of all thy care lies in trimming thy self to appear before men righteous or religious Persons may go very far in this with great self-security resting barely upon outside performances getting fine words and painted expressions making a great show of their worship Pharasaical like and at the same time live under the dominion of some base lust Isa 1. 11 12 13 14. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt Offerings of Rams and fat of fed Beasts I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or Lambs or Hee-goats When you come to appear before me who hath required this at your hands to tread my Courts Your new Moons and appointed Feasts they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them for your hands are full of blood They were then under the guilt of sin or dominion or both and yet at the same time full of outward Services and mighty busie in their Worship Hear ye this ye men of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord Do not trust in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord for the Temple of the Lord is this If ye throughly amend your wayes and doings if you throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour and oppress not the poor fatherless or widdow in This I Delight Jer. 7. It is clear here also these rested meerly in outwards and lived under the dominion of very base lusts at the very time they seemed so zealous for the Lord. And it is very much to be feared many now adayes run in the same channel Ezek. 33. 31 32. Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord and they come before thee as my people come and sit before thee as my people do and with their mouth shew much love but mark that at the same time their heart runs after Covetousness These were Hypocrites in Zion that shelter themselves in the outside of Religion Covering Gods Altar with tears Mal. 2. 8 13. Yet he regards them not seeing such to be but nominal Christians and therefore abhors them exceedingly The Scripture seems to intimate this as a very common overspreading weed not rare to be found but rather rare to be avoided in professors Let us therefore all look to our selves prove our own work so shall we have rejoycing in our selves alone Mat. 23. 14 15. for a pretence make long prayers Rom. 2. 18 19 20. Behold thou art called a Jew restest in the Law makest thy boast of God being confident that thou thy self art a guide of the
and learned their works and served their Idols therefore was Gods wrath kindled in so much that he abhorred his Inheritance Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry and did pitty them Hosea 6. 4. compared with Chap. 11. 7 8. How shall I give the up what shall I do to thee What less doth all this signifie than thus much that though God be so provoked that nothing but Judgment must come yet like a tender Father to an unruly Child mourns over him while he corrects him We shall leave what hath been said to consideration and pass to the Twenty third Sign of dying to Christ CHAP. XXIII Proving those Christians under great Decay that pray more in Affliction to have it removed than sanctified with three Causes of this Decay SIGN XXIII VVHen you pray more for Afflictions being removed than sanctified That is not only mindless of Afflictions Cause but indeed mindless of Afflictions end it is easie and ordinary for persons under Affliction to be brought to their knees to prayer not only good men but bad men in affliction will be ready to cry for help In their affliction they will seek me early Hos 5. 15. That is one of their first works then they will mind to be doing till then God is forgotten they having lost much their spiritual feeling but now being touched in their outward senses they will cry for relief Then wicked Pharaoh that in Exod. 5. 2. could say Who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go in Chap. 8. 8. When his Land was ful of Frogs cries to Moses to pray to this God for him he had but little before disdained See that known text for this Jonah 1. 5. Then every man that is when they was in affliction cries to his God the tempest being great and they all like to perish not only cries to their God but with a high hand saith to Ionah What meanest thou O sleeper arise and call upon thy God that we perish not So 2 Chr. 33. 12. Manasseh when he was in affliction sought the Lord his God By all which compared it is very usual both with good and bad men in affliction to be early at prayer to God Now Affliction you know we have in the last Sign proved is Gods Furnance to try the Nature of every Mettal by so that you may truly pass judgment upon your selves whether or no you are of the dying hand not by your praying here you may deceive your selves though you pray mightily for it is easie to do so in Affliction but if you pray more for Afflictions being removed than sanctified that is put up strong cries to be eased of the trouble but scarce possest with faint wishes to answer Gods design in the trouble never inquiring What have I done or saying I must be more humble more thankful more pittiful more fearful more careful all my dayes What shall I do saith the zealous man to get good by this Affliction his voyce cries louder for spiritual advantage than his pain for natural freedome Let us think of this and deal plainly with our own hearts and see what way the pulse beats most for as the staff you set up will fall one way or other so persons being more or less spiritual will easily discover it in Affliction Israel of old might be read in this and you know how God dealt with them of six hundred thousand there was but two namely Joshua and Galeb that entered the good Land of promise they early begun to show how carnal they was Exod. 12. 13 14. When they enjoyed their great deliverance from Egypts bondage Chap. 15. then sang they Gods praise but being put into some strait they murmur presently and wish to God they had died in the Land of Egypt as Psal 106. shews at large where we may read of Gods dealings with them at large and their dealings with God while they had what they wanted they were pleased and liked the Lord should be their God but when though for their own good they were straitned and did miss their wonted fulness then they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desart vers 14. We do not read it was upon their hearts to make any spiritual use or advantage of Gods different dealings with them when they had not what they would have instead of learning to cease to murmur they strengthened themselves in murmurring against the Lord who was graciously careful for them and suffered not any more straits to befal them than what was in order to their truest good although they were as many now are full of complaints yet their greatest want was slackness to those strong cries that ought to be found in Christians for a sanctified use of whatsoever doth befal them taking care to the one thing needful without which all Order is Disorder all Mercies Miseries all Blessings but Cursings What shal it profit a man whatsoever he hath of fulness or scarcity health or sickness desire or want of desire if Gods end in all and our happiness in all be not gotten to wit that eternal Salvation that freeth from everlasting Damnation that being the great work that all other works ought and must give way unto But I shall proceed to the Causes why persons pray more to have Afflictions removed than sanctified First Ignorance of the Cause of Affliction Secondly Ignorance of the Necessity of Affliction Thirdly Ignorance of the End of Affliction First Ignorance of the Cause of Affliction No chastening for the present is joyous but grievous bitter and sharp having with it an unpleasant taste to whomsoever it comes therefore in it self certainly not welcome to any although they bring it upon themselves who is it that runs not from pain naturally and will part with what is outwardly dear to them rather than expose themselves to that torturing that attends some kind of Affliction Now if as plainly and as certainly it appear there is unwillingness as well in God to Afflict as there is in the creature to chuse Affliction then it will naturally follow that there is a Cause Ignorance of which is a main reason why we pray more to have it removed then sanctified For the proof of this that there is as great unwillingness in God from whom Affliction comes to give it as we to receive it mind a little some texts of Scripture 1 Pet. 3. 8. And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good in the words going before you have it thus written But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil That is his favourable countenance is set against such and their portion is bitterness Levit. 26. 17. But if ye be followers of that which is good who will harm you Here seems to be a holy challenge to whatsoever may harm us as if the Spirit should have said
in as it comes upon and because of the smart unpleasant tast it brings with it calls them with a louder voyce to make inquiry why am I thus which prosperity in all probability could never have so done being not so much of that piercing kind to the external senses as adversity or calamity is and this the Prophet Isa â—6 16. seems to make his great observation in these words Lord in trouble have they visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them For I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a young Lyon unto the House of Judah I even I will tear and go away and return to my place till they acknowledge their offences and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early Hos 5. 14 15. Plainly implying that it is not only the design of God to send calamity upon persons for this end but that also they are most aptly provoked to it at this Season see that remarkable text for this 2 Chron. 33. 10 11 12. And the Lord spake to Manasseh and his people but they would not harken wherefore that he might speak by his rod as well as his word the Lord brought upon him the Captain of the Host the King of Assyria which took Manasseh among the Thorns bound him with fetters and carried him to Babylon and when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly While the rod was but shaken as it were Manasseh remained refractory but when he was bound in chains he humbled himself greatly must it not then from hence needs follow that calamity calls for fasting and humbling where ever it comes being designed to thâ—t reducing end and may not the decay of some grow to that pass even so ripe for reaping that except they should from a deep sense of their state be mightily brought down to humble their souls with fasting as the last remedy left or prepared by God for such conditions to betake themselves unto and that if they here should fail then to be given up to the mouth of ruin Here this ye old men give ear all ye inhabitants of the Land hath this been in your dayes or even in the dayes of your Fathers tell ye your Children of it and let your Children tell their Children and their Children another generation that which the Palmer worm hath left hath the locust eaten and that which the locust hath left hath the canker worm eaten that which the canker worm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten sanctifie ye a fast call a solemn assembly gather the Elders and all the inhabitants of the Land into the House of the Lord their God and cry ah las ah las for the day of the Lord is at hand and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come How evident is it that this was this peoples last remedy and except they now find mercy nothing but destruction will be their portion But some may Object and say how shall we know when danger is such that without humbling our selves with fasting we are like to meet with ruin Answ There are six seasons that of necessity calls for Fasting First when long patience is abused Secondly when just judgments are threatned Thirdly when Just Judgments are executed Fourthly when iniquity in Churches gets a head Fifthly when Churches grows secure Sixthly when some great thing is by them to be obtained First when long patience is abused patience or forbearance in God is long exercised to both Churches and people before with judgment he sweeps them away the rod is shaken again and again while they are under visible decay and though God wait long upon such as grows luke-warm in all their active graces yet will he at last speak home to them it was thus with Israel after they had rested from their troubles they did evill again and again for which God did gently whip them then they turned for a while and cryed but presently after went to their old course Yet many years did he forbear them and testified against them by his Spirit in his Prophets yet would they not hear therefore gave he them up into the hand of the people of the Land Nehem 9 30. So in Jeremiahs time they provoked Gods patience long So that the Lord could no longer bear because of the evil of their doings clearly noting that they had long abused his long forbearance therefore was their land made desolate Secondly just judgments threatned when judgments by God are threatned upon Churches in order to their preventing this is the way they are to take as the Text but now named in Joel fully proves see also Rev. 2 3. chapters where you have several Churches found in a decaying state and called upon to speedy repentance else they must be unchurched Thirdly when just judgments are executed is a season for fasting that they may be again removed Then Hanany said the remnant which are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire and it came to pass when I heard these words I sate down and wept and mourned certain dayes and Fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Nehem. 1. 4. This way good Nehemiah took and it was prosperous with the Lord. Fourthly when iniquity gets head that is when sin and sinners in Churches grows so numerous and heady that they are like to out-voyce the better party it is high time then to be night day with the Lord in fasting prayer that iniquities head may be broken by the sword of his mouth there was a few names and it was but a few in Sardis Church that had not defiled their garments the greatest part were ready to die and the Lord threatens to unchurch them except they repent Revel 3. And now you call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up and they that tempt God are even delivered then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another Mat. 3. 15 16. Fifthly when Churches grow secure that is as safely sheltered in their account from judgment though a dying to every duty as if they were in a growing flourishing state contenting themselves to be told it is not well with them but sit still from using either means of information or recovery as though they were minded to suffer their distemper to grow mortal Thou saist I am rich and increased with goods and hath need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable and blind and naked As many as I love I rebuke and chasten Be zealous therefore and repent Revel 3. 17 19. Sixthly when some great thing is by them to be obtained Dan. 9. 3. And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with Fasting and Sackcloth and Ashes Mat. 17. 21. This kind goeth not out but by prayer and
with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdome of Heaven but the Children of the Kingdome shall be cast out into utter darkness May we not tremble to read this text with self-reflection that from the East and West such as in all probability never had the Tyth of that means we have had neither heard nor seen what we have heard and seen yet to their measure had walked so like what they had heard and what they had seen that they shall be counted worthy by the Lord to sit with Abraham and Isaac in the Kingdome and the Children of the Kingdom cast out namely such as had his Name and Ordinances among them making visible show of his Religion and promised themselves lack of nothing because they would cry Lord Lord and were great nominal Christians pleasing themselves in giving Christ good words and thinks none shall be saved so soon as they they being beset with such salvation priviledges Mat. 7. 22 23. Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophecied in thy Name and cast out Devils Then will I say Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I never knew you Let none therefore trust in lying words which cannot profit saying the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are these that ye throughly amend your wayes and your doings then will I cause you to dwell safely Jer. 7. beginning But alas how few lay to heart the great good Salvation and deliverance from the great hurt Damnation eying with all trembling the road way in which God will both give the one and with-hold the other surely surely this carnal security the souls damning sin would never so possess persons rocking them asleep did they but with all diligence consider that security of all kinds about hereafter Glory without these marks of hearty designing and actual endeavouring the new creatures life in the measure called for as attainable and to be attained in the Scripture of truth nothing being more evident then that such make it their whole business to be conversant about those soul-searching texts that speak out salvation by Christ Jesus upon no less terms than hearty designing with actual endeavouring to live like Christ Jesus in Scripture conformity to his will I shall beg of God there may be by them that read this these five following Scriptures duly weighed which with the help of his grace may serve as a deliverance or tend to the rouzing up of the soul from this damning sin of carnal security The first is Rom. 8. 10. And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life or alive because of or unto righteousness 2 Cor. 5. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new Gal. 5. 24. And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 1 John 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself so to walk even as he walked Chap. 3. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure Doth not these great Scriptures with one mouth tell you the high road way to hereafter Glory and prohibit any man from daring to promise himself the same upon any other terms or in any or her way wherefore my brethren seeing that ye or if you look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 14. Secondly A second Cause of persons being so senseless is Contentment with out-side Christianity that is frequent in the performance of those Services that relate to the Worship of God but the thing designed by God to be reached after and obtained is not pursuied It is evident both from Scripture and Experience that persons have been and are frequent in hearing Sermons in Prayer in Reading in Fasting and such like performances yet they remain very carnal and unmortified Now Gods gracious End in giving such spiritual priviledges to persons being by him designed to beget them to his spiritual likeness and his End not brought about must needs argue such not or little further than out-side performances contenting themselves with their Services so done that leaves three parts of four yet to do for what pleasure can God take in those that after long standing under the opportunities of getting both inward and outward excellency in that that makes Christianity honourable while they still remain as fruitless as the Figg-Tree having a great show at distance and nothing but leaves at hand Doth not Jesus Christ in so many words except against such as not rightly qualified for his Kingdome Mat. 5. 20. But I say to you except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Their righteousness will not do and yet they are known to be a People much in prayer Fasting and giving Alms which are in themselves good things and yet they not accepted of God but for all this his Woes goeth out against them May it not be feared that hundreds in our dayes content themselves with scarce going thus far in outward acts yet retain a strong opinion that all shall be well with them hereafter as though such confidence of being saved as they that act it are content with would content God but let not such deceive themselves and they may find that confidence about hereafter safety not being acted by penitent subjects whose hearts can witness a through change will return to themselves back again charged with presumption notwithstanding all their outward performances And it is most sure as hath been premised in the last Sign that the holy Spirit bears not witness with such spirits that they are Gods Children that because while they remain thus content with out-side Christianity Reformation reacheth not the heart and then is a wanting that awful reverence of God and of Christ within that commands without the tongue so to talk the eyes so to look the hands so to act the feet so to walk in the likeness of God as to be truly deemed his workmanship Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts known and read of all men forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ But we shall leave this to consideration and pass to the third and last Head Thirdly Persons are so senseless of their spiritual estate by not being conversant about things to come Now things to come are reduceable in special to these four heads Death Judgment Salvation Damnation all which are matters not of show but of certainty and may be called the four last things which every man ought to make his four first things that he furnisheth his heart withal because indeed they are Religions great cause and bounds Heavens great Argument to call us to duty our great Argument to submit to Heavens