Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
that vast and wide Place to which the great and wide Sea is not so much as a small single Pool of Water is now to the whole Ocean Every thing above is so astonishing that all the Wonders of the Deep are not so much as the purling of a little Brook or Stream To see the King in his Beauty and to behold the Land that is very far off Isa 33. 17. is infinitely more delightful than the Gaudiness of Eastern Emperors or all the pleasant Places of all the Earth Our Souls shall mount up there after they have for some time dwelt in this earthly Cottage They now are weary of and get above all things here and do apprehend the other by Faith which will be revealed in Sight and Enjoyment God doth all things in his own Order O that thou wouldst rent the Heavens that thou wouldst come down Isa 64. 1. He might open and display his own Majesty and make himself seen in his Glory or he might infuse his Word and Spirit immediately into the Hearts of every Soul of every Nation under Heaven to give them Knowledge and Assurance that these things are so But he hath spoken to the World by the Prophets his Son and Apostles who lived in the Land of Judea and others are to receive it from them and to publish it forth throughout the World Thus our Lord and Saviour gave Commission and Direction And accordingly his Apostles did travel about on Horses and Ships unto the Places afar off to make known these things and so their Words went out unto the End of the World But we according to his good and gracious Promises do expect a more universal preaching of his Word and sending of his Spirit As He is the Confidence of all the Ends of the Earth and of them that are are afar off upon the Sea Psal 65. 5. So he will manifest and make himself fully known unto them Our selves as yet know him by Faith we hear of him with the Hearing of the Ear we see it written of him we understand and perceive from within but the Words of Life and Knowledge may be sent and published unto others By the Help of Ink and Paper we may speak to those whom we have not seen and to the Nations afar off Men and Brethren of every Country of the Earth let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried Whilst he lived he ruled over one single Nation of small Extent and he was likely to have been thrust from that by his Son Absolom but the Lord sustained him He had no forreign and new Conquests nor did he enlarge Territories Himself was not made the Head of the Heathen nor did People whom he knew not serve him Therefore being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an Oath to him that of the Fruit of his Loins according to the Flesh God would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne He seeing this before spake of the Kingdom of Christ that it should extend over all He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the Ends of the Earth and so as is further said in the Seventy Second and Eightieth Psalms Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People It is the general Stile of Prophecies to run in the Present or Preterpefect Tense which saith things are ready or have been when it speaks of things to come which denotes the great Truth and Certainty thereof that it will as really be as if it was at this present Moment or had been already fulfilled It is the Word and Promise of the high and lofty one who inhabiteth Eternity to whom all things are present and before him Who sits above and hath in his Power the Times and Seasons He is above all Difference and Distinction of Times but according to our Capacity and Understanding he expresseth himself in this wise Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psal 2. 6 8. God hath established his Worship and Kingdom by little and little and ordained that those who submit unto it should do it freely It was a considerable Time before he brought his first Begotten Son into the World and then he endued him with such Power and Excellency that others might believe on him as sent from God and come to serve and honour him for whoso doth honour the Son he doth honour the Father also All People had sufficient Reason and Invitation to come unto him yet none is forced His Throne was set up in the appointed Place for the Law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Micah 4. 2. Every Man or Woman that will may be obedient to it We are to fear the Name of the Lord whom we have heard of and we are to comply with his Will which is made known unto us Herein is the Kingdom of God superiour and different from that of Men for we ought to obey him that is invisible before those whom our Eyes see And it was never known nor heard of among the Children of Men that those did exercise Authority whom none of their Subjects ever saw God is a Spirit and is manifested unto and in our Spirits and he is also evident to the outward Eye for this sees the things which his Hands hath made Our selves do inhabit in and discern the Temple wherein also he dwells and which he fills with his Presence Heaven is his Throne and the Earth is his Footstool So that we have as great Assurance that the Lord is King as that there are Governours over such particular Nations or as a Son is assured that he had a Father or a Servant that he hath a Master And there should arise the same continued Obligation of Duty towards our God as is actually given to those earthly Relations according to what is written Vnto thee lift I up mine Eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Behold as the Servants look unto the Hand of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the Hand of her Mistress So our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he have Mercy upon us Psal 123. 1 2. A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master If then I be a Father where is mine Honour and if I be a Master where is my Fear saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 1. 6. which is the most reasonable and natural thing in the World for in him we live and move and have our Being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his Offspring For as much then as we are the Offspring of God we ought in all Times and in all Places to give all Honour and Obedience unto him And so accordingly we should if we had the Knowledge and did not forget God
tending towards Good or procuring Loss and Evil to themselves Every one Desires good to himself and would avoid evil Hurt and Inconveniency As he is a Man of Understanding and Prudence to let him Judge and do according to the most likely Way to obtain the one and avoid the other See I have set before thee this Day Life and Good and Death and Evil I call Heaven and Earth to record this Day against you that I have set before you Life and Death Blessing and Cursing Therefore choose Life that thou and thy Seed may live Deut. 30. 15. VVhoever reads or hears these Lines whether thou examinest them in thy Closet or by a casual View whether this Book be read to thee by another or few or many be present To each Man or VVoman singly I do apply my self and I call the Angels to witness that these things be set home to thy Heart that this doth not turn for a Testimony against thee and when such things were laid before thee thou wouldst not mind but refuse Thou Man or VVoman of whatever Rank or Degree of whatever Age State or Condition of Life young Men or Maidens yea and Children that can in the least apprehend what I say I speak to you all severally and joyntly even in this very Moment of Time in this very Instant now even in the same Day that this is declared unto you I speak to every one of you in the Prophet's Phrase BEHOLD YOVR GOD. And I do most humbly and earnestly intreat of his divine Majesty which he is more ready to do than I to ask him O Lord God Almighty behold thy Sons and Daughters that from this Hour and Day they may take thee for the Lord their God consecrate themselves entirely and universally unto thy Service improving this and all their remaining Days for every Opportunity to do good and carefully watch against and eschew all Occasions of evil Hence forward to mind nothing but God and the things pertaining to him how they may most please and be accepted with him If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Yea blessed is he that readeth or they that hear that they may know these VVords and immediately without any Delay keep and observe the things written therein CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him THe second Hindrance which keeps People off and was proposed to be spoken unto in the Beginning of this Book is that some imagine that they have so grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him The first Example of this we have in our Father Adam And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And he said I heard thy Voice in the Garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself Gen. 3. 9 10. A Consciousness of his Guilt and Disobedience did make him keep off yea and unwilling to approach unto God when he was called Perhaps he thought that God knew not his Transgression but would discern it by some outward Sign when he came somewhat nearer VVhereas God both saw and heard them talking under the Tree in the midst of the Garden and did more clearly discern their Temptation and Sin than he could inquire and be informed afterwards But he came and would examine the matter after the Manner of Men. Both to vindicate his Justice and also to manifest that he yet continued his Grace and Familiarity to our Nature For even in the Curse and Punishment pronounced Mercy is intermixed A most precious Promise is conveyed into what may seem a terrible Sentence It shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3. 15. Thus Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment and even overcometh it at last And whereas it is said I will greatly multiply thy Sorrow and thy Conception In Sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the Days of thy Life Vers 16 17. Here also is somewhat released of the pronounced Punishment for God who is sovereign doth not execute in so severe a Degree as his VVords did seem at first to import for though indeed there is Trouble Pain and Sorrow in our coming into and Continuance in this VVorld yet blessed be God it is not altogether so continually grievous as what might have been expected when the VVords first proceeded forth Thus is the Lord merciful and gracious even when he is righteous and just And as his Mercy is over all his VVorks so it comes in as a Balm to mollifie his Vengeance God first calls upon our sinful Parents to shew that he had not quite cast them off and that they should not languish under a perpetual Separation from their Maker He finds out a Method of Reconciliation and Accommodation Tho' withal he ordained them and us a Punishment yet we may truly say the Lord hath punished us less than our Iniquities do deserve Hence we may learn and be encouraged that if we have not heretofore obeyed the Voice of his Commandment yet still we ought to come when he calleth us and it shall not be worse but better for us Thus saith the Lord behold I frame evil against you and devise a Device Return ye now every one from his evil Way and make your Ways and your Doings good And they said there is no Hope but we will walk after our own Devices and we will every one do the Imagination of his evil Heart Jer. 18. 11 12. VVhen People have committed much already their Conscience is accused of Sin and they are sensible how that they are obnoxious to God's VVrath and Punishment and fearing they shall one Day suffer under it they think it the same if they suffer for much as for little and so they fall from one VVickedness to another Nay with some there is a most strange and horrid Imagination as Persecutors and such like who conceiving an Hatred and Enmity against God but dreading withal he will be stronger than they when they come to meet him and therefore they take Advantage in this Time of Trial and Forbearance as it were out of foregoing Revenge to act stubbornly rebelliously and contemptuously against him as eveâ— they can It is written in the Revelations of those who gnawed their Tongues for Pain and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their Pains and Sores and repented not of their Deeds Rev. 16. 10 11. Some again did give Glory to God for his Judgments The first Sort whilst they were yet in the VVay did provoke him yet more who at length was too hard for them and hath delivered them over unto the Tormentors Like as we have known or heard of some desperate condemned Rebels who might have their Pardon if they would sue and make Supplication for it but they would not through Stubbornness or a pretended Bravery and therefore they did all the Mischief they could before they died
God's Will for himself is more than all the Generations of Mankind and so more than all that are now living He is more than ten thousand times ten thousand kind of Creatures which are any where in the World above the Firmament or in the vast and spacious Air in the habitable parts of the Earth or any where underneath and without the visible World for all things were created by him whether Visible or Invisible Thrones or Dominions Principalities and Powers Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Matt. 6. 10. So it is more Universally as Heaven is greater than Earth which is but a part and next to nothing The Innumerable Company of Angels Heb. 12. 22. Those many sorts of Creatures whether Animate or Inanimate Those ten thousand of his Saints whereof Enoch prophesieth Jude 14. The hundred and fourty four thousand of all the Tribes of the Children of Israel and that great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues Rev. 7. 4 9. All these obey and fulfil the Word of God and they do his Pleasure And those are many more than all those Rebels now living upon the Earth or those Generations of sinful Men since the World began Whom the Lord hath carried away as with a Flood Psal 90. 5. to be delivered over to the Lake of filth and stink or like the Grass which in the Evening is cut down and withereth Verse 6. and is to be burnt with unquenchable Fire And so it will be of all those which are yet to succeed until there be an End made of Transgression and the Sinners be consumed out of the Earth and the Wicked be no more Psal 104. 35. A little after the Creation All Flesh had corrupted its way upon the Earth Gen. 6. 12. which caused the Flood whereby the World that then was being over-flowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Vngodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 6 7. As certainly as the Flood came upon those in the days of Noah so certainly shall the whole World be consumed by Fire The Punishment and Vengeance of God are executed by Fire and Water which do drown and consume many as well as few And Death that consigns them over unto it hath reigned from Adam ever since Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it Isa 5. 14. which hath been and continues unto this day to be fulfilled So it is a vain Shelter and foolish Safety to think to escape with the Many for God can and doth as easily deal with them as with few We sensibly know that within seventy or eighty Years within the compass of the Age of a Man he doth quite empty the Earth of all its Inhabitants and causeth others to spring up in their stead whom again he takes away in his own order And though now they assemble themselves in Companies to commit Wickedness and gather by Troops to do Mischief Yet they drop away one by one into the Bars of the Pit and he scatters them that they fall severally until they all die away and come to nothing He doth now give his express Command by his Servant Moses Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do Evil Exod. 23. 2. and forewarns us by the Son of his Love whom he sent to Redeem and Preserve us from it Wide is the Gate and Broad is the Way which leadeth unto Destruction and many there be which go in thereat Matt. 7. 13. So that who is for being amongst the Multitude He will be amongst them also and so he will miss of that narrow way which leadeth unto Life Nor will he be one of those few who find it Indeed there is an Inclination in Man to do as the rest of his Brethren do but then he hath some seeming Reason for it or he is void of Understanding as to have no set and inward Principle of Action and then he can just conceive what others do and order himself to do according Example is a sensible and visible thing and thereupon it hath such a strong Prevalency over most and it is yet stronger over those who know not what it is to live by Faith nor act by hope of unseen things But they are most led on thereby who least think within themselves A Multitude is made up of several distinct Persons which conspire in one thing or near the same But it was received of one or few before it is made known unto and embraced by many and then the like Disadvantage lay against it as now they conceive on the other side But it is said now it hath the more general Acceptation Why the most do swallow it without Examination And who admit thereof must have some Rule Then which God hath given none other unto Men besides his Word which is to try Good and Evil Duty and Transgression as also what may be discerned from the Truth and Reality of things There is no other way under Heaven whereby we may be Happy but this only Now every one desires to be Happy that is To enjoy what Good he can and to avoid Evil. Even those have that Wish and Intention who turn aside every one to his own Way Who live as their Neighbours and Acquaintance and as the rest of the World do why this hath a shew of Peace and Good Will and they do hereby avoid the odious thing of Singularity and the Irksomness of Reproach But they should do well to consider in the first place of Glory to God in the Highest How is that annexed to their kind of Peace on Earth and Good Will towards Men. Their Hearts should be lifted up with Angels and the Heavenly Host towards him who sitteth above and remaineth King for ever And how is he honoured by such a kind of Life as the Inhabitants of the Earth lead which is made up of Forgetfulness of their Maker Sin and Sloth How are his Statutes kept and his Laws observed Are Peace and Truth met together as in the days of Hezekiah see Isa 39. 8. Or is it like the Hills of the Robbers the Assemblies of the Ungodly and Wicked an Agreement together to preserve their old accustomed Ignorance Corruption and Error And then those who would teach Knowledge and guide into Truth shall be reputed Enemies to Civil Society and Troublers of Israel the Church of God And what is the commonly called Good Will but to let every one do what is right in his own Eyes Not to meddle with their Sins and Transgressions To avoid Sound Doctrine Reproof Correction Instruction in Righteousness for all this hath a shew of Disturbance It is said to spoil Family-Peace and good Neighbourhood Even in this Antichristian Age wherein things are
repented the Lord that he had made Man upon the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6. 5 6. But after that the Lord smelled a sweet Savour and the Lord said in his Heart I will not again curse the Ground any more for Man's sake for the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth neither will I again smite any more every thing Living as I have done Gen. 8. 21. This was said upon Noah a Righteous and Perfect Man his building an Altar unto the Lord and offering burnt Offerings on that Altar So that we see and find that it fares better with the wicked World for the sake of the Righteous And after the same similitude of things we may conceive that when the Lord hath been long and sore displeased with the Heathen of former Generations who were at Ease under which word Heathen are comprised all those who know not or who obey not the Lord when the Earth was much corrupâ—ed by reason of their Transgression which did sit heavy â—pon it so that it became as a Smoak or Stink in his Nostrils When the House of Israel dwelt in their own Land they defiled it by their Ways and by their doings Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a Removed Woman Ezek. 30. 17. After God hath born with this a long time then comes and succeeds the Righteous Generation who build an Altar and offer Burnt Offerings on that Altar which like Frankinsence and Myrrh doth take away all the former Stink that the Lord doth smell a sweet Savour from them whereupon he doth abate and mitigate somewhat from that intended Punishment which he had before thought to lay and inflict on the wicked World That he will not stir up all his Wrath nor yet pour on them all and the utmost Evil which he had before purposed to have done Though withal by seeing the exceeding Goodness of the one compared with the Exceeding Sinfulness Evil and Provocation of former Generations it is necessary that some Punishment and Vengeance be actually inflicted on them For the day of Vengeance is in mine Heart Hereby is denoted the futurity thereof and that it is to succeed after the other and the Year of my Redeemed is come Isa 63. 4. Which being expressed in the Present Tense though it is spoken of after the other yet in order of time it will be before that to which agrees the Gospel And the Dead in Christ shall rise first Thess 4. 16. For it is the day of the Lord's Vengeance and the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion Isa 34. 8. What is this controversie of Sion It is even the Lord's Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth That all both Jew and Gentile Heathen and all other People of every Nation Country and Language and of every Generation should obey him the Lord their God And here it comes to pass that some do Obey him and some do not from whence it is appositely stiled Recompences in the Plural Number there being two sorts of them that is to say a Recompence of Good to those that shall be found to have Obeyed him and a Recompence of Evil to such who have not Obeyed him For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. To all People of every Country Kindred and time one of these two ways So that in short if People do not Obey God it is a Controversie which will be decided to their own Misery as themselves will find in the day of the Lord's Vengeance But if they do obey him unto which knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men it will be abundantly made up to them in the Resurrection of the Just in the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion This Controversie the Lord hath been pleading with Men and Women by his Word and Spirit by his Prophets Son Jesus Christ Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Ministers and Servants ever since Man was first Created on the Earth The same lot hath fallen unto me from the Forty third Forty fourth and Forty fifth Verses of the Eighteenth Psalm which I have here endeavoured to Handle Faithfully and Truly according to the Grace and Knowledge according to the Ability and Measure which the Lord hath given and committed unto me according to the proportion of Faith and according to that distribution of Spiritual Qualifications and Endowments which was allotted and here I stand in my Lot Dan. 12 13. to me a single Creature What I write unto others I write unto my self also that I may be found obedient in all those things whereunto I exhort others And whilst the desire of my Soul is to this and the same is the endeavour of my Hands it is a well-grounded hope and assurance that both my self and my Works may be accepted of the Lord. If the Lord who hath the residue of the Spirit Mal. 2. 15. doth stir up others also in like manner as he hath done mine This may somewhat prepare and make way for the Vniversal Reformation of the Lives and Manners of Men. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as Stars for ever and ever But thou O Daniel shut up the Words and seal the Book even to the time of the End Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12. 3. 4. So that after all these Words also may be shut up and this Book may be Sealed until the appointed time draws near and is actually come when God will indeed bring the same to pass even at the time of the End in the very last days and shutting up of all When Christ the Son of David the root and off-spring of David the Bright and Morning Star shall be delivered from the hands of all his Enemies and from the strivings of the People when his Enemies shall be made his Foot-stool and shall be cast out as the dirt in the Street when all his Members Disciples and Followers shall be delivered from the Hand of Saul See the Title of Psalm 18. that is in a Spiritual Signification from the Devil that like as Christ their Head was preserved from and not overcome by his Temptations so he stall see the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied for in that himself hath suffered being Tempted he is able to Succour them that are Tempted Heb. 2. â—8 Whom he doth accordingly so Succour and Preserve in the hour of Temptation and in the day of Trial till at length they become Conquerors and they are delivered from the hand of all their Enemies and from the hand of the Tempter CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psalm 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of this Psalm Whereunto is Sub-joined the shutting up and the Conclusion of this whole Book SO that in that day the words of this Song may be spoken unto the Lord I will
Knowledge of the Truth Whatever is dictated to any and is tending to good the same is to be complied with and actually done and so on whatever can be reached further or apprehended more Nothing is created in vain nor yet should lye still and remain to no Purpose but the same should answer the very Ends for which each thing was made and ordained This is to be observ'd not only in natural and common things but necessarily and more especially in eternal and spiritual things and so we should press unto the Mark of the high calling God hath created and left us in such a State as to prove whether we will do that to which he hath already enabled us and doth require If we do not it is at our Fault and Peril and we shall be subject unto Loss and Misery But yet the Eyes which were made to see should and may see the Ears to hear and who have Hearts and Understandings given to perceive they may perceive Deut. 29. 4. As Men profess themselves to be Servants of the most high God so they should do his revealed Will and perform what he hath said in his standing and written Word by which he now speaketh from Heaven all one as if we heard outwardly his Voice And then they should take hold of the Skirt of their Neighbours and cause them to go and hear the Word of the Lord. Using the like Endeavour and Perswasion drawn only from divine Arguments and Considerations as the wicked and Companions in Sin do entice one another by their Arts and Means Yea and they should so lay hold of them that they shall not go back unless they rent some Piece of their Garments that they may as it were be compelled Luke 14. 25. to their own Good and Salvation that if they will still refuse and give back it may be with greater Difficulty and Striving And if they do resist the first or second Importunity yet by continual asking and putting in Mind the ungodly and wicked may be wearied Luke 18. 5. till they first hear and then they will come to receive and yield unto the Words of eternal Life Then the Eyes of the Blind shall be opened and the Ears of the Deaf shall be unstopped Isa 35. 5. They also that erred in Spirit shall come to Vnderstanding and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine Isa 29. 24. However at first this may be esteemed uncivil and troublesome to the Neighbourhood and Community yet is very consistent and agreeable with the Welfare and Happiness of Mankind for many to joyn together and severally that it may be no strange nor singular thing to endeavour in all good Conscience and the greatest Earnestness to bring People off from Ignorance Sloth and Deadness in Sin to Knowledge be doing good and the spiritual Life that coming out of carnal Security they may discern and follow the things which belong to their Peace and thence lead them up to the holy Hill It can be no Harm to rescue any from the Place of Torment to pull him though never so much against his Will like a Brand out of the Fire Ye that make Mention of the Lord keep not Silence And give him no Rest till he make Jerusalem a Praise in the Earth Isa 62. 6 7. So we are to do the like and endeavour what we can to gather the People and make them meet and ready a People prepared for the Lord. Each Master of a Family may order the Word of Exhortation and Instruction to be read unto his whole House Or where he is backward or negligent then the Wife of his Bosom or a Son or a Servant who is rightly disposed towards God they ought to give the House no Rest but be urgent and importunate till it be made known unto and understood by them That as our God hath given Precept upon Precept Precept upon Precept Line upon Line Line upon Line here a little and there a little Isa 28. 10. It being doubly ranked and several times enforced yea and repeated over and over So it is to be continually inculcated till it hath gotten the Victory over all rebellious and stubborn Hearts And when this or the like Method is used as the Spirit shall direct or incline in our own Nation and every Part thereof we may assuredly gather Acts 16. 10. that God hath called us to preach the Gospel unto others Surely the Isles shall wait for me and the Ships of Tarshish first to bring thy Sons from far their Silver and Gold with them unto the Name of the Lord thy God And to the holy one of Israel because he hath glorified thee And the Sons of Strangers shall build up thy Walls and their Kings shall minister unto thee Isa 60. 9 10. It hath been the Way and Method of God's gracious dealing towards the Children of Men to help towards their Good by little and little to bring them on from less to greater and still to make beter and increase Psal 115. 14. their Condition Who first laid the Foundations of the Earth and ordained the gathering together of Waters who settled the habitable Parts of the Earth and divided Country from Country by Rivers Seas and Rocks he could have made it all one Continent and Plain Who gave Life and Motion in such a Degree as now the doth he might have raised it to what Pitch of Activity and Speed he pleased By the same Power we might have been made to walk on the Waters or to ride on an Horse through the Deep But he hath established things in wonderful Wisdom and Counsel for great and excellent Ends even in those which seem ordinary and common Seeing many things but thou observest not Isa 42. 20. As God made every thing so he gave Man that Skill and Knowledge to build Boats and Vessels for the Water and to send forth from one Place to another Now consider the utmost End and Design of Navigation whether to keep Intercourse and Correspondence with other Nations Desire of Gain and their Commodities or to maintain the busie Nature of Man in Employment Yet there is one thing greater than all that is to bring down God from above by the Word of Faith which we preach that People may be more acquainted with him to give them Knowledge of Salvation and tell them of the greater Communion and gathering together of his People which shortly will be more than hath been ever since the World began and in the mean while all things are to be done which may hasten and make ready towards the Accomplishment thereof To make known the things which belong to their Peace and their eternal Exaltation and Happiness which is more than all the Gold of Ophir To assure them that they shall and tell them the Way how they may live blessed for ever which is more than the best temporal Livelihood This is the best Use and End of Navigation If we did look up and could see the Heavens opened
or rather Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise Isa 26. 19. But we shall only be removed into another Place or stand here again in these later Days upon the Earth when both our selves and this Place also shall be changed into a more glorious and abiding Condition That very Knowledge and Desire implanted into our Nature of more than is perceived or can be had here doth most clearly demonstrate that there are real things to which it doth relate It being so firmly riveted and grafted in doth plainly shew that it came from the Author of our Nature Even he who made us hath so ordained us who created the Flesh did also form the Spirit And as that is established to have a Sense of things sensible so this hath a Knowledge and Conception of things spiritual As that tastes and sees the things present so the Soul doth as evidently perceive and apprehend things to come And this would equally appear in all People if they did in like manner put forth the Powers of their Soul towards divine and heavenly things as the Instruments and Members of Body are employed about the things of the Earth Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hos 6. 3. First know somewhat of his infinite and glorious Godhead and then how he hath created and established things Also in our selves is implanted a Power and Capacity to arrive at the Knowledge of them It is superfluous to bring many Arguments to prove the things which are true and real already but yet because they are concealed and hidden by searching they may be found out when the Evidence of things not seen is brought forth it makes as if they were seen So we find in ordinary Cases that in a matter of Fact done heretofore or in a distant Place it is as nothing to us but when it is declared and told unto us by certain faithful Witnesses it is in a manner present and as if we saw it with our Eyes Thus it is of historical Matters and common things done in the World So it is likewise of God's wonderful Acts done in former Generations the Miracles and Signs wrought by Christ and his Apostles which are conveyed down unto us aâ—…er the same manner as publick Records which are either written or one Generation tells to another Now the first is the more certain Way because that remains when the Voice and Sound of the Mouth perishes in the Utterance and many times is forgotten There is the express Order of Almighty God Isa 30. 8. that these things be written Hence his Word is called Scripture that is a Writing and is so noted in a Book that it may be for the Time to come for ever and ever In which is a Declaration of God's Will unto Men what he doth require of them with a Rehearsal and Promises of what he hath already and will yet do for them Our selves know what we intend to do such a Time hereafter if we have Life Power the same Mind and Circumstances continue alike Now he is the Everliving Almighty God with whom is no Shadow of turning who sits above and hath the Disposal of all Times and Seasons who governs and hath Power over all things who knows all the Hearts of all the Sons of Men the utmost which is or can be Before whom all things past present and to come are the same So what he hath said shall most certainly be For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disannul it Isa 14. 27. I will work and who shall let it Isa 43. 13. However for a while Satan and his Instruments are suffered to resist and to try what they can to hinder yet the Work of God cannot be utterly overthrown for notwithstanding all the Malice and Opposition of Men or Devils it will come to pass at the last Hath he said and shall it not come to pass Yes assuredly For that that is determined shall be done Dan. 11. 36. For the Vision is yet for an appointed Time but at the End it shall speak and not lie Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry Hab. 2. 3. But in the mean while we are apt to stagger and distrust because we do not see it fulfilled in our Generations Whereas we are but of a short Time and to him a Thousand Years are but as one Day and he will have a suitable Space for fulfilling his great and glorious Work For even the lesser things are done gradually and in Succession of Time In this little Space and short Time we do not find all things to be so as we are told of yet nevertheless we are here so much ascertained of the less as to build up a sure Trust and Confidence for the greater And we shall be translated up thither where it shall be said As we have heard so have we seen Psal 48. 8. when Faith shall be turned into Vision the Substance of things not seen shall be the Remembrance how our God did promise and keep them out of Sight But now he doth perform the same and they are revealed with open Face Therefore were they ordered to be future and unseen to prove whether we would give Credence unto his Word If we would be diligent in the Work of the Lord expecting a Reward from him in his due Time But if his great and good things were now present before us and to be had as those things of this World now are what snatching and running would there be after them People would never think themselves too diligent and earnest They would make haste and not delay the Time to keep God's Commandments Had they a through and firm Perswasion of what he saith Every Man shall receive his own Reward according to his own Labour 1 Cor. 3. 8. Each Person would then try who shall most abound in the Work of the Lord. They would lay hold of every Opportunity for well-doing if they might partake of his Acceptation and Recompence They would call to mind what they had been heretofore a doing To what End or to what Good were all the past Actions they had taken under the Sun What am I at present better for having had or done this And is there Expectation of any thing more Will my heretofore serving divers Lusts and Pleasures make me happy now Wherefore then do they not satisfie at this Moment Why do they utterly vanish and disappear How comes it to pass that Day by Day they cease to delight and are less recreating Surely I have been mistaken all along It is Happiness and Satisfaction which I desire and they make a false Shew thereof It is Peace and Rest which I would endeavour at and they leave behind Craving and Trouble The sinful Profits of this World seem to be somewhat more enduring and real But let us reflect upon them either Way as Soul eat drink and be merry We will
get so much and then enjoy our selves according as the Phrase of the World is or to please our selves with keeping an Abundance as the covetous Mammonist doth Yet still this is a meer conceit and a Reasonable Creature cannot be filled or satisfied with that and here Psal 49. 17 18. lies express against him For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away his Glory shall not descend after him Though whilst he lived he blessed his Soul All the Service and Labour after Mammon is evidently determined within this short Time and it stands in no stead at all further Now an Account shall be demanded what we have done here What Provision was made against the Time to come What Foundation was laid in by good Works Wherefore was all their Labour about perishing and temporal things And not about the eternal which do remain Every one is to give account for his Talent and how he improved it to the Glory of his Master that he may receive Authority and Commendation proportionable It shall be recompensed to every one according to what he hath done Where was more done there shall be a greater Reward so that all the Actions of a Man tend as much to himself in that State as what is done in the present Time The unprofitable Servant is to be bound Hand and Foot and to be cast into outer Darkness Every one is called to work in the Vineyard and if any one doth not come as soon as he is called as those did in the Parable Mat. 20. himself must answer before Almighty God for the Refusal to obey his Commands And also People do not attend nor rightly consider how they willingly deprive themselves of so much Wages and Recompense Seeing that God hath revealed himself to be so bountiful and good a Master Servants should shew themselves accordingly unto him and as it were meet him in the Way of Righteousness They are to strive who should run fastest who shall perform their Work with a more willing and chearful Mind and to offer themselves who shall make the first Assault or do such an Act of Duty for even thus much is done for our Masters according to the Flesh Is not God more gracious and better than they Are not his Benefits as valuable Ought not his Favour and Good-will to be more esteemed But his good things are to come why whatsoever we now have and enjoy did first proceed from God and is his own Man hath the Use of some things but God hath the Propriety of all But the greater things also will be actually present as those things now before us are and then these present things shall be utterly done away So they are upon equal yea more Advantage than what is now before our Eyes Tribulation Anguish and self-Indignation will be upon every Soul that did neglect them for perishing Bubbles and empty Nothings Which then they find as before they might have learned to come to nothing at all for they were just had and passed by And yet by the Nature of them by the utmost Certainty and Reality of future and invisible things they might have been perswaded to seek diligently after them For the same Word of Truth which spake of the one hath told us of the other also By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made Psal 33. 6. And upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. which hath created and given to each thing its Nature and now connects and holds things fast together as they are The same Word saith For behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth Isa 65. 17. so that as certainly as things now are and stand after this manner as they do at present they will be likewise so fulfilled as we are foretold of Those gracious Promises in Isa 45. 17 18 19. are confirmed with the like Reason which is as it were inserted between them viz. But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded World without End For thus saith the Lord that created the Heavens God himself that formed the Earth and made it he hath established it he created it not in vain he formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is none else I have not spoken in secret in a dark Place of the Earth I said not unto the Seed of Jacob seck ye me in vain I the Lord speak Righteousness I declare things that are right Here is an Answer and full Satisfaction given to that common Question and Thought what do People get by the Service of God They expose themselves to prevent Self-denial and Labour but what Recompence and Gain For if others are diligent after worldly things they do commonly obtain But here we are assured of that which cannot be had in this World To be saved with an everlasting Salvation There is no present Return to exercise our Faith and Waiting So that now we become liable to Shame and Disappointment by labouring for nothing Yet what saith the Witness of God Ye shall not be ashamed World without End At long run it shall not be thus At the End of Time it shall be otherwise and this is ratified by what we now see even his lesser Works are done for some Purpose as in the Instance here assigned the Earth was created to be inhabited But here again Faith is exercised for some things seem to be created in vain and a Part of the Earth is not inhabited as barren Mountains and the waste howling Wilderness yet there are also Creatures of some Sorts and God may have great Intents and Purposes herein which we know not as yet but shall know He asserts himself by his Name the Lord to be ALMIGHTY the chief and only Ruler and none can controul him so that he will perform what he hath said If one thinks within himself to do thus or makes private Promises there he may alter his Mind or Falsify and meet with no Discredit but only from the Person to whom it was entrusted But God declares out of the Thoughts of his Heart and speaks out publickly to all the World that neither the Seed of Jacob nor any one who doth the Works of Abraham or comes within the Covenant made to the Patriarchs shall seek him in vain Again He confirms it further by his righteous Nature and declaring the things that are right So we may be bold to say that where in serving him we submit our selves to present Loss or Labour there God is pleased to speak in Righteousness and thence we may assuredly gather that he will render a Reward accordingly But as he is gracious and bountiful it will as much exceed our Works as if one should give a Thousand Pounds to a Labourer when he deserves no more than a Penny God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love Heb. 6. 10. He will take notice of every thing that is done purely for him
for the Work is as profitable and beneficial to the one as Payment is to the other But the Case is otherstise between God and us for first he hath wrought all our Works in us he brought us into Being and hath fed us up hitherto And one Way or another he hath prevented assisted and directed in those things which more immediately relate unto him though we are heedless as not to discern it no more than we perceive how we live and move in him which yet we do all along that to him belongs all the Glory and Praise thereof The utmost in Man is his Liberty of acting and working together with the Grace of God but still he first implanted that Power and Ability and when it turns towards Good it was God and his Grace that weighed down the Scale and over-ruled it unto the right and true Way Alass We are such small and finite Creatures that the utmost we do is very little and next to nothing For if the best Performances of the greatest and most diligent Saints on Earth be considered what is their Righteousness unto him Or what receives he of their Hands Even they come short of what they might have done yet more for they might have further improved their Talent Therefore I say unto you the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Mat. 21. 43. But since the preaching and Promulgation of the Gospel to the World no Nation hath yet brought forth such Fruits God knows what will be done in the latter Days as might be justly expected from it Nothing hath been done answerable to the precious Truths contained therein It was the Lord who gave the Word who planted the Trees but the Ground hath not brought forth suitable Increase thereof The Husbandmen have not manured and dressed it as they should have done And what Fruits have been or shall at length spring up from it Lord thou hast but what is thine own They are but living Instruments all one as the Spade or Pruning Hook in the Hands of the Gardiner and at last the Work suffers Loss and Disadvantoge by Reason of those employed therein If they do any thing rightly it is of God that they do so but the Weakness and Fault is of themselves only God worketh in us both to will and to do He hath shewed us how so that all things and all our Works are to be attributed to him only He sits above and Christ at his Right Hand expecting what his Servants will do for him in like manner as till his Enemies are made his Footstool Both which are consequent one to the other for by means of his Servants he will overcome the rebellious and make them submit under him The Lord looketh down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God Psal 14. 1. That did rightly apprehend the End of their Being in this World and did look after their Maker that by the things known already did ascend yet further That by what is known of God did seek out yet more if they could find out further Trace and Footsteps of this invisible Being As his Way is in the Waters he rideth upon the Wings of the Wind and the Clouds are the Dust of his Feet so we may see God in every thing To behold him not only in the Sanctuary but in every Part of his Temple which is Heaven and Earth and in each Part and Corner thereof To behold him in his visible Works and to perceive him in his invisible things To understand that great Relation of the Creator and his Creatures But more especially how we are concerned with that God with whom we have all to do What he doth require of us and what we are to render unto him The Phrase of looking down to see doth plainly denote that they are left to their Freedom and Liberty The same is likewise signified in the Parable of the Vineyard Isa 5. and Mark 12. 1 2. where God hath done all things that were necessary and reasonable and looks what will come of it Whether those Powers of acting he hath endued the Sons of Men withal will be employed in the right way or in extravagant things or be folded up in Idleness and Sloth Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away and every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit John 15. 2. To all is committed at first some Grace and Power in order to spiritual things but who do not use it accordingly it is withdrawn from them But to them who manage aright is committed yet more that they should labour according to the Strength given them For whatever is in us is to be used and put forth Knowledge is to be communicated and still further Degrees and Increase thereof is to be sought after in order to impart that forth again Truth is to be declared and spoken out and this also is to be sought after and received for the aforesaid End and Purpose As the Blossom is to the Fruit so is Knowledge to Obedience and good Works The first is the Principle it goes before and gives Hope of the Fruit which is better and accordingly will end in that unless it be blasted and withered So this is the Beginning of our Duty for we cannot do any thing in order to God unless we know somewhat of him We cannot keep his Law till we apprehend what it is As there is an Unwillingness Aversation Forgetfulness of God and good things so there should be something to overcome that to stir up our Remembrance to keep this always in the Imagination of our Heart O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People and prepare their Heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. Nevertheless it is too often seen through the marvellous Subtilty of Satan who doth every way endeavour to beguile and to beat off that many have good and right Knowledge but it remains as it were blasted for it lies dead within and doth not shoot forth into well-doing Many times it drops off and Perishes having no Root or Stalk in them for taking no Delight and apprehending no Good therein they suffer it to pass through their Understanding as Water running through a Pipe which may wet and moisten a little for the Time but returns to its former Driness They may be a little affected for the Time but afterwards they do not mind nor give heed thereafter It makes a goodly Shew and Appearance without but it is meer Leaf and Colour and nothing worth unless it grows towards Fruit and Perfection God is not to be served by halves As he requires the whole Man so he would have his Work finished and compleat or else a tending towards it if it be such as he will
accept of Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works Jam. 2. 18. Faith may be without Works but Works is a good Sign of Faith If they be right spiritual and Divine Works they must have Faith and Knowledge for Beginning and Performance of the same for wouldst thou know wherefore they are done by some and not by others Because some understand the Obligation they are under and the Encouragement they have to the same All People would alike do the Will of God if they have the like Thoughts and Apprehensions concerning the same There is one Faith and one Hope So they might equally believe and have the same Assurance of good things to come if they would study and seek diligently after them If they would suffer themselves to know their Duty and be in a Readiness to perform the same God would reveal it unto them Provided they do receive the Knowledge thereof and not put it off and stifle it He would incline them to do the same if they would yield unto and not resist his Motions He would give his Spirit if they would not grieve nor quench it and if they would preserve their Body in Holiness and Sobriety fit for its Habitation he would enlighten and rectifie their Understandings if they would draw off the thick Coverings of Ignorance and Disobedience which make that either the Mind cannot apprehend at all or it is full of Falshood and Delusions For the Transgressors having not observed but departed from the Law of the most High to save and defend themselves they seek out for Excuses and Imaginations and through the Perplexity and Maze of them the Sinner doth not so easily apprehend what is good and true A deceived Heart hath turned him aside Isa 44. 20. So it is always when one starts or goes out of the good Way And likewise the same hinders it from coming in as a secret Imagination that it is soon enough or pray have me excused for this and the like Reason There is an hundred Kind of Surmises or Imaginations But in Allusion to what our Saviour saith take heed how ye hear so let People take heed how they think for God discerns their innermost Thoughts as plainly as if they were wrote upon their Face or spoken out aloud in the Market-place However they keep them close and concealed from his faithful People and Ministers least they should find something in the Word of Truth to convince them of their Errors and Mistake so that they need not to go on therein yet in the mean while known to God are all of them and he will one Day spread them forth before their Faces in the Sight of Angels and Men and lay it all open and detect the whole by his eternal Truth They are so angry and vexed at present as if we could inform God who searches all things out and knows the very Secrets of the Heart or as if we did bring their Sins to Remembrance when himself hath declared that he considers all their Ways Though he doth now hold his Tongue Hab. 1. 13. yet our God shall come and shall not keep Silence Psal 50. 3. He shall rehearse the Thoughts Words and Actions of the whole Life These things hast thou done and I kept Silence Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes Psal 50. 21. The Time Place Circumstances and Aggravations will be all manifested and as they were Day by Day committed so they shall be reckoned up In the Midst of Transgression there was no such notice taken of them because God kept Silence but it might even then have been known that our God would reprove People for the same because even then he did sometimes do it a little by his Word and Servants and by the still Voice of his Spirit within them And though we know nothing of one another yet God is pleased to convey into our Mind some secret Intents and close Imaginations giving us thereby to understand that he knows them all for he gave us this Knowledge And if the World is now so enraged when only a few Thoughts of their Heart are revealed good God what Fear and Confusion will they be in What Terror and strange Amazement will possess them when all the Thoughts of all the Sons of Men since they have been created on the Earth shall be fully manifested For there is not a Word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Psal 139. 4. And then all Evil corrupt Communications Lies vain Swearing false Oaths Blasphemies hard Speeches against God Jude 15. Reproaches of his People Slander and Backbitings with all the Sins of the Tongue which is a World of Iniquity shall be summed up So he who considereth all their Ways shall bring up all their ungodly Deeds wicked and unjust Actions the first whereof they did endeavour to hide from the Saints here on Earth and the latter even from their common Neighbours If they had but the Knowledge of God they would understand all this at the present Time for even now we live under him whose Eyes run to and fro throughout the whole Earth and are in every Place beholding the Evil and the Good He hath given his Word which is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart for that speaks out concerning them and declare them unto us Neither is any Creature that is not manifest in his Light but all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 11. Not only divine Revelation but common Reason teacheth the very same For as our Lord argued to the Pharisees Ye Fools did not be that made that which is without make that which is within also Luke 11. 40. so he who fashioned every Part of us must likewise know all that is therein He that planted the Ear shall he not hear He that formed the Eye shall he not see So he who created the Soul with Powers to know must also much more know himself and also every thing which she thinks or doth The Scripture in sundry Places asserts this all-knowing Property of God There is no Darkness nor Shadow of Death where the Workers of Iniquity may hide themselves And they which would not commit Wickedness before such a Man who perhaps hath the faint Image of God within as to hate and loath Evil and therefore if such a Spy is in their Presence as they term him there is a Secret Awe and Restraint upon their Spirits But why might not these understand that there is one greater among them who sees and beholds all that they do Who is holy and hateth all Wickedness who is the Judge of all Men and will certainly call them to an Account for what they are now a doing Yet the Sense of him doth not keep them off from evil-doing Which happens only from
carnal Considerations or worldly Inducements no present Motive nor yet a like Danger and Inconvenience did hinder or excuse with him but he immediately went to Jerusalem Undoubtedly all these did for the best and God was well pleased with them He did accept and reward them more than those who seek out for Excuse and Delay or such who first refuse to hear his Gracious call or if they do at any Time hear or it is made known unto them yet they will not yield unto it The Word of Exhortation stands continually for all People both young and old to hear and read it The Spirit and the Bridegroom say always come There is one knocking at the Door of their Hearts for Admission God is ready at all Times to set up his Kingdom within us his Law is already written in our Heart and inward Parts He sends his Prophets rising up early and sitting down late Who being dead speak yet unto us in their Writings There are constant Dictates of Mind to serve and obey our Maker There are Examples of those who do it in our Age and Circumstances of Life There is hardly a Chapter or Verse throughout the whole Bible but some way or other calls and stirs us up The Scripture is opened and alledged The Word preached in the several Congregations throughout our Land and in all the Nations of the World are a Sermon to us also For we are the same Creatures and stand in the very same Relation to the great God over all as those several Persons who hear such and such Truths with their outward Ears We might also know and hear more than we do and those who hear and understand are to declare it unto us to acquaint their Neighbours and Kinsfolks and they to others So that the Word of God might dwell richly and have free Passage among us There is a sufficient Call and Warning to all People in their several Generations and Ages of Life God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17. 31. As every one knows Christ to be a Saviour so there is the same Notice conveyed that he is to be our Judge And as God shall bring every secret thing into Judgment all the Actions of our Lives for each single Day will be called to account So it will be demanded why such and such did not come when they were called as they sensibly knew by a powerful Conviction over their Spirits when it was inculcated over and over to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Heart When they might have considered more and more and themselves did find that the more they did consider the more they were pressed instantly to close with Christ and therefore they did put off considering their Wayes They might at such an Opportunity have heard God's Word which would have urged them to have turned from their evil Ways and therefore they would not attend to them They might at such a Day and by such Means have learned the Knowledge and Fear of the Lord but they would not His Statutes were laid before them but they would not let the Ears hear which were made to hear nor the Eyes see which were ordained for that End And further when the Thoughts thereof did recur to the Mind they would put them far away When God rises up and enters into Judgment how shall Men answer for such things And whosoever now looketh upon or hears what is written in these Lines and he is convinced of the Truth and Sincerity of them but if he should go away and not comply with the Purport thereof or be willingly ignorant or take no notice for fear he should be brought over unto God more suddenly than he otherwise intended how will he give account to the Judge of all Men for the same Even to that God who knows all his Thoughts and Imaginations concerning this or any other matter who will reprove and set the things he hath done in order before him even from the Time he had the Beginning of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unto the Day of his Death God knows all things but we know not as God knoweth and therefore we are so puzzled and distracted in things pertaining to him He seeth all things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth at one Sight and knoweth all things to the utmost as they are known But we now see one thing and then another in order and Succession of Time as he shews them unto us Those Things which are more hidden and invisible he reveals them by his Word and Spirit and still we know nothing perfectly and comprehensively And it may be all confined to things pertaining to us Men which is not the Ten Thousandth Part of the things to be known nor yet one Half of what doth immediately relate unto and concern us The Sum and Comprehension of all is to know God and his Law our Duty to him in each particular and when we do vary from it It may be observed that the whole Scripture which is called the Lord's Book may be all reduced to this Besides the natural imprinted Knowledge God is there more discoverd to us by the History of the Creation of the World his Manifestations unto his Servants that worshipped and feared him his wonderful Works that he did from Time to Time the Descriptions given of him in sundry Places and also the Commandments enjoyned to the Sons of Men. The Law was given by Moses unto which he added much Exhortation to the Observance thereof So did David and the Prophets whose Writings were to press People unto Obedience and a Reproof of Transgression Which last was an orderly Declaration of Matter of Fact and according to Truth how People did turn aside from the Commandments delivered unto them It was a Telling of or Declaration unto the House of Jacob their Sins and Transgressions Which was expressed in general or more particular Terms but yet so plainly that every Offender might understand himself was spoken of and called upon for to amend his Doings There is a strong Sense and Obligation upon the Heart of Man to keep the Law of his Creator and he is sensible of as much every Time he is put in Remembrance thereof As on the other hand he is troubled with Shame Regret and Condemnation when he thinks of and more especially when he is told of his Sin and Error This proceeds from the Consciousness of having offended God and from the Fear of his Anger and Judgment A secret Thought doth arise from Ignorance or Unbelief that either God doth not see or not take notice of such evil Deeds and will not require for them But such an one brings their Sin to Remembrance and makes it recorded before God which
the Power of the Air even where Satan's Seat is and he doth hinder or resist or defeat all the Good he can His Devices are subtle and his Instruments many so he is the Cause of all the Evil and Misery which are scattered up and down in the Earth God suffers it to be thus for our Trial and other wise Reasons that by our overcoming he may have the greater Glory But because of this many are apt to doubt of God's Love to the World Whereas by this means he doth prove the Children of Men towards him For by their being amidst Temptation and evil the Trial of their Faith may be had whether they will follow the thing that good is Whether they will still resolutely put forth and countermine the Devices of the Enemy and so make them of none effect or cause him to fall and that he shall lose more than he got thereby God suffers many things to come to pass for our Trial whereof we are apt to stagger concerning his Love and Goodness to Mankind but thereby he hath shewed how they may approve themselves more than Conquerors and then he designs to crown them with greater Glory and Happiness This may be applied to the particular and several Dispensations which happen of whatever Kind they be each may be observed by a discerning Person to exercise our Faith and Trust Now for a Season if need be ye are in Heaviness thro' manifold Temptations that the Trial of your Faith being more precious than of Gold that perisheth might be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. It is irksome at present and we are apt to have hard and distrustful Thoughts but this is because we know not all the Reasons thereof and how our End shall be yet more excellent and happy Who led thee through that great and terrible Wilderness wherein were fiery Serpents and Scorpions and Drought where there was no Water Who brought thee forth Water out of the Rock of Flint who fed thee in the Wilderness with Manna which thy Fathers knew not that he might humble thee and that he might prove thee to do thee good at thy latter End Deut. 8. 15 16. This will be really found though it be hid from some and they are not sensible thereof all along Indeed this makes the rejoycing more at the End because it happens better than was expected but yet to know thereof beforehand makes that we fail not nor be discouraged Isa 42. 5. That we do not grow weary nor faint in our Mind nor abate one Tittle of our Duty nor yet desist waiting on the Lord not to be tempted so as to say with that profane King This Evil is from the Lord what should I wait for the Lord any longer 2 Kings 6. 33. but rather to make the contrary and right Conclusion This Trouble Opposition and Resistance is from Satan the Adversary I will endeavour through God's Grace to resist him more vigorously until he is bruised down under my Feet Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou trample under Feet because he hath set his Love upon me therefore will I deliver him I will set him on high because he hath known my Name He shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in Trouble I will deliver him and honour him Psal 91. 14 15 16. As long as any one is in God's Way he is safe to carry him through all Difficulty and Danger that he may overcome and be crowned at the last It is said before He shall give his Angels Charge over thee to keep thee in all thy Ways Psal 91. 11. This Promise is exceeding particular and even so is the whole Psalm for Safety and Preservation over and from the several and successive Kinds of Evil there-mentioned So that we may trust and conclude that by what God hath done hitherto he will go on to establish and finish the same Cast not away therefore your Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Heb. 11. 35. It is not an hasty nor a fond Presumption nor yet a vain Conceit for it relies upon the whole Truth and Authority of God's Word which also speaks of the Evils and Hardships which we meet with in the mean while which we find to be so That same Word doth also assure us of Strength to hear and go through with and at last of perfect Deliverance and Victory out of them This is the Favour which the Lord beareth unto his People until he doth actually visit them with his Salvation Psal 106. 4. But for those who have sinned with their Fathers who have committed Iniquity and done wickedly how is it with them Will not the following Verse give them a Glimpse of Hope and Comfort Our Fathers understood not thy Wonders in Egypt they remembred not the Multitude of thy Mercies but provoked him at the Sea even at the Red Sea Psal 106. 7. If the Question should be asked wherefore do all Mankind sin and transgress against the Lord Have they not a present Temptation and Desire of seeming Good which they imagine God would hinder them of Not knowing that God hath provided greater Pleasure and Happiness for them and more Peace and Comfort in the mean while They are ignorant of this for otherwise they would receive the Good that exceedeth They do not understand the greater Multitude of God's Mercies for then they would not behave themselves rebelliously and contemptuously towards him Like Words unto those of Peter in Acts 3. 17 18. may be applied to Mankind of past Generations And now Brethren I wot that through Ignorance ye sinned thus as did also your Father Adam A present desire of pleasure and greatnessled him into the Transgression and so his Sons and Daughters ever since have had some seeming Reason why they committed Sin against God To be advanced a little more and better from their present imperfect State Now were they assured that what God would do for them would be beyond all this then they would endeavour to continue stedfast in his Covenant Were they fully ascertained that they should have greater Good by keeping his Judgments at all times than by declining from or walking contrary unto them either they would not transgress at all or in fewer Instances than now they have done God knoweth all things As he suffers so he doth likewise behold the whole course of sinning ever since he created Man upon the Earth until this day with the several Temptations Excuses Circumstances belonging to it as also to what degree of Extenuation or Provocation it might have and also the measure of Ignorance and Imperfection He doth not need to be informed thereof for He likewise discerns that Willing Ignorance that contempt and refusal of Instruction of set purpose The way of the just is uprightness Thou most upright dost weigh the path of the just Isa 26.
7. In like manner he doth consider all the ways of the wicked and takes in what measure of abomination and evil deserving is therein and also how much is to be allowed unto Satan's Temptation Now the Serpent was more subtle than any Beast of the Field which the Lord God had made Gen. 3. 1. And so he continues still to be more cunning than the children of Eve as they are merely such without the assistances of the Grace and Spirit of God from above and he befools them Now again they might from the Wisdom and Word of God know his devices and so escape yea and frustrate them The Lord looketh down from Heaven upon the children of Men he considereth all their ways and understandeth all their works whither good or evil with whatsoever doth belong to them to reward pardon or punish He now sits above and takes notice of them in order as they are done But he hath reserved to himself the Power and appointed a Day to Judge of all and to distribute unto every one according to his works This is the alone Prerogative of God above which he hath kept in his own power For he alone searcheth the heart and knoweth all things whereas we do only perceive a little in a false and imperfect manner by doubtful report and mistaken observation And then we cannot throughly apprehend a thing wherein many are concerned so that we can give no perfect Judgment and Determination But the Lord will rehearse it when he writeth up his people He hath a Book of all Nations Families and single Persons with the account of time and place they stood here on the Earth as also he notes the things that they have done The Scripture makes frequent mention of this particular summing up of our deeds and that our God doth take regard of them and will bring every secret thing into Judgment even the most hidden passages of our Life Thou hast set our iniquities before thee our secret sins in the light of thy countenance Psal 90. 8. Each single one for why not one as well as another nay every wrong thing and turning aside even our errors and misdeeds which we pass over for Inadvertencies and small Neglects those which we suddenly act and do not much mind our selves Thus much is signified from what is written Who can understand his errors Cleanse thou me from secret faults Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me Then shall I be upright and I shall be innocent from the great transgression Psal 19. 12 13. Here the several degrees and diversities of sin are specified by the words Errors secret Faults presumptuous Sins and the great Transgression A consciousness that God doth even now search us and is acquainted with all our ways and then that we must pass into a strict Examination and Judgment is apt to raise doubtful and despairing thoughts in our mind How strange is it that any People should be heedless and unconcerned about those things whereof they must be called to an account If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities O Lord who might stand And he might do so if he pleased but then in his sight no man living will be justified For no man hath been so watchful circumspect and inoffensive in his Life and Conversation but hath in several instances transgressed against or despised the Lord his God and as himself hath regret and vexation afterwards as he looks back so he would tremble to have them set in order before him By thy wrath are we troubled Psal 90. 7. And again we are comforted blessed be his Divine Majesty because that same word which speaks of God's Displeasure and Indignation against Sin doth likewise assure us of his Reconciliation and Pardon Thereby is to be seen a mixture of his Justice and Mercy And it is observable That where are expressions even to terrifie and cast down there is somewhat close by said to give hope and comfort and to lift up again where is Reproof and Threatning there either commonly goes before or succeeds presently after an invitation to return and a promise of forgiveness So we have the very same assurance and certainty that God is to be Reconciled unto the World through Jesus Christ either to the multitude in general or to single persons For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved And he came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentance This is as evident and clear as that God was ever angry with the World or with any single Man for his sin and wickedness But this withal is to be considered That if the World will be saved in and through Jesus Christ they must in the mean while submit to his Scepter and Kingdom obey his Laws and observe his Sayings For as heretofore they have not gave heed unto nor been governed by them which hath occasioned his Wrath and sore Displeasure Psal 2. 5. so to avoid that and obtain his mercy and favour they must now do what heretofore they left undone and ought to have done and refrain from what they were forbidden and yet heretofore they did Leave off all manner of Transgression and Disobedience and henceforward perform all Duty and Service Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2. 12. Submit and be reconciled unto him lest you miss of that Path of Life which he leads in He knows if you despise him and you must take him for a Guide and Saviour to follow him whether soever he goeth For ye were as Sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls 1 Pet. 2. 25. Without this actual Returning and Amendment there is no Salvation and Mercy If men will not do what is first required it is vain to talk of or hope for Pardon and Forgiveness if they will not perform the necessary foregoing Conditions and Qualifications they have no lot nor share in this matter not one good thing doth belong to them not one Iota or Tittle of God's Mercy precious Promises and comfortable Truth is applicable to them until they do indeed begin the work of Repentance God is not their Father nor doth he look with an Eye of Goodness and Compassion upon them till they are indeed returning and coming unto him And indeed when one doth really arise and is coming towards God then our Heavenly Father may see him yet a great way off and go out to meet him Luke 15. 20. Love and Forgiveness are kindled at the very same moment when his resolutions are of going home and these do happily meet together The end of telling People their Transgressing is because many times they are blinded and insensible of them Indeed they may know a little slightly and confusedly but another may
and Knowledge of him to refrain from Transgression If we did see after the Manner of Men from the Example of an enraged Prince who hath the Power to be revenged on ungrateful Rebels and is constant to what he swears or saith God is angry with the wicked every day if he turn not he will whet his Sword he hath bent his Bow and made it ready Psal 7. 11 12. He is more and more displeased day by day and as the Creature continually provokes him God only forbears to execute his Vengeance to see whether he will turn or not The longer man puts it off it will be worse for him How grievous and abominable is it to stand as it were at defiance and opposition with God For a worm to contest with and to wriggle against its Maker for a Potsherd to strive with the Lord of the World He justly declares himself to be an Enemy to such wicked doers Ah! I will ease me of mine Adversaries and avenge me of mine Enemies Isa 1. 24. He only sends out his Word to give notice thereof to see if they will submit He sends out the Son of his Love with an Offer of Reconciliation to prove whether they will receive his Message and Counsel who saith Agree with thine Adversary quickly least the Adversary deliver thee to the Judge and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer and thou be cast into Prison Verily thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paid the utmost Farthing Mat. 5. 25 26. The more quickly thou agreest with thine Adversary the more sure thou art to be reconciled unto him Thou must be reconciled to him first or last or thou wilt be eternally miserable The longer thou standest off thou dost the more provoke and enrage him And wouldst thou resist him in the mean while whom thou must at length submit unto Nay when thou art willing to be at Peace with him Even those who are now reconciled and were once afar off are vexed within themselves that ever they should have the least Enmity against so gracious and so good a God The Adversaries of the Lord shall be ashamed And if thy self dost come to be agreed with him thou wilt not only repent and be grieved for all thy former Ignorance strange Imaginations but even for this Opposition and Doubting whether thou shouldst presently come over unto thy God Consider he is stronger and mightier than thou He is all-wise and jealous of his Honour and also he will be glorified in his Creatures And shall they offend him now because they hope hereafter to please and pacifie him Or will they take Advantage over him also as some do over his Servants to affront them the more because they know beforehand such will forgive Is it good that God should search you out or as one man mocketh another do ye so mock him Job 13. 9. Thine hand shall find out all thine Enemies thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee Psal 21. 8. That is find them out to punish them and therefore God certainly knows them with the measure and degree of Hatred they conceive against him The sin is against him and also the pardon belongs to him and also he is the God to whom Vengeance belongeth Now what is the Reason why he doth spare some and punish others He will do according to what he hath said He shall Judge the World with Righteousness and the People with his Truth Psal 96. 13. And by that Truth he takes an estimate of People even now God who knows the hearts will put a difference between Infirmity and Perverseness between unavoidable and willing Ignorance what is to be allowed to the temptation and what is their own fault He doth apprehend all the meaning of his own Law and Word and also all the doings of all the Sons of Men every motion and thought of their Soul and all that is within them The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it I the Lord search the heart and try the reins even to give to every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings Jer. 17. 9 10. He takes exact account and cognizance of all things and here it is said that it is in order to give to every Man according to the fruit of his doings so that certainly it must be the better way to submit instantly For the present refusal and neglect doth provoke him in the mean while those strugglings and contests do displease him when he exhorts and admonishes if they rebel and vex his holy Spirit he will turn to be their enemy Isa 63. 10. and fight against them We know not when this will be and therefore People should be exceeding cautious how they do in the least displease him When the Scripture speaks of God being angry the same Word invites again to Reconciliation with him Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. Now God is continually with us though many are not sensible thereof for he is with us in our going out and coming in and he is with us in all our ways and this would be a continued fear and trouble to the mind unless we are at peace with him and then it is a comfort and an assurance And therefore those who are afar off do not think of God but forget him not knowing that they might have the thoughts of God and the remembrance of his Name be as familiar yea and as delightful as now they go on in their own darkness and imaginations for here is danger and continued doubt They might come to live under the continued sense of God with the same yea and more exceeding comfort than others do with the thoughts of any thing as the Bridegroom rejoyces over the Bride so shall thy God rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 3. And reciprocally his people may live comfortably and rejoyce in the Lord their God He is a shadow from the Heat as a great Rock in a weary Land a shelter â—rom the Storm an house of Defence or strong Habitation whereunto we may continually resort Psal 71. 3. And many such like expressions the Holy Ghost makes use of As a woman takes care of her sucking Child and a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings so is the Lord God to his People to assure them of his continued Preservation Love and Familiarity towards them And any one may come over to be amongst his People as they that were not of his People do come to be of them so we do warn testifie and exhort all men every where of every age or condition of life whatever their past sins be and of whatever nature or multitude their present temptation and circumstances are yet still they are invited to partake of the loving kindness of the Lord. What hinders Let the thought imaginanation or excuse be what it will we could speak and give a sufficient answer unto it from the Grace and
Truth of God We could reason even from the very first Principle of Action and make even the man himself whether he be in a meer natural state or if he knoweth what we say whether he be learned or unlearned yet we could leave it to every man to judge what is best even for himself to do and which is lIkely to tend most unto his own good Nothing is more certain and evident Then that there is no fruit of Sin It is like dross Psal 119. 119. which melts and slides away The pleasure or profit thereof passeth away and comes to nothing at all there is nothing therein which doth remain and endure nothing which will abide the Fire or stand in any stead in the evil day Not the least comfort or happiness can possibly arise from it Wherefore then should any one continue in Sin Or why should any one go to add Iniquity to Iniquity To draw it on as with a Cart-Rope when hereby he doth not only lose so much good but bring on himself the more guilt and misery If he hath offended God by former sins he doth yet more by present continuance in the same if he hath been filthy he will be worse by wallowing yet further in the mire and the sooner he draws back from the ways of wickedness he will abate God's displeasure against him No flesh can stand under the power of his Anger they cannot endure nor are their hearts strong in the day when the Lord shall deal with them And seeing we must all appear before him to receive Good or Evil to be sentenced unto Life or Death What can be done too much to intreat our Judge in the mean while that we may have him favourable and propitious and be found accepted with him What intercessions and care should be used against this great day of Trial and everlasting Decision How should we in the mean while behave our selves towards him that now sits above to take notice of those who fear him and think on his Name and also expecting till his Enemies be made his Footstool Those who will not submit willingly at first must at length by force who will not do it of their own accord shall be made to do it Wherefore should any debate or doubt arise in the minds of men concerning this Had they not better forthwith close in with that God of whom it is graciously written Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth Iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7. 18. He would wink at and pass by former Iniquities if People would be careful to please him for the time to come if they would not perversly abuse things as to stir up his Anger so much the more because he doth not retain it nor yet to presume upon that Mercy which he delighteth in The right consequence is That if God doth not retain his Anger then they should not retain their Sins if he delighteth in Mercy they should both Pray and also endeavour to be Partakers thereof to meet God as it were in the way of Goodness to have good-will towards him that he may shew Mercy towards them with what Affection thou behavest thy self towards God he will manifest the same towards thee With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward Psal 18. 25 26. According as men are so will God be towards them Now seeing that every one knows that it is in the power of God to save or destroy to do good or to punish no man can be indifferent as to which he would partake of for he would have the good and avoid the evil let him then go the most likely way to obtain the one and eschew the other and that is not to be determined by a sudden thought or slight apprehension of things for such may be the temptation and delusion of Satan But consult the Word of God the very truth and reality of things for seeing that God made doth now govern and will dispose of all things we may rest fully assured that so it shall be as he hath said and decreed where his Word doth promise Forgiveness there the man may be assured thereof as again where it threatens Punishment there he hath just cause to fear and dread it Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. But the wicked think that this may be done hereafter so that he is for keeping to his own way in the mean while Then he will continue and go further in a wrong way out of which he must at length come or perish the longer he goes on therein the more way it is to come back those things which he now doth must be undone He must endeavour to please and be reconciled with that God whom now he provokes and sets afar off He must have an awful Regard and Reverence for him whom he now despises What strangeness and contradiction would it be to do those things now which he shall hereafter really wish and desire that he had never done Repentance comes in upon a better and more truly informed Judgment When the prodigal came to himself Luke 15. 17. then came in him the resolution of going home and framing right Principles of Life hence forwards Then it is discerned that he was in an Error heretofore that he had chosen the worst part but now he would mend and lay hold of the better then he verily assents and is really resolved That if such a thing were to do again he would not do it But how can this be that when either he doth already or might know as much yet he doth the same The whole doth depend upon a full and true knowledge That God is to be obeyed and pleased in all things and that it is best for men in all circumstances and at all times so to do If in one instance so likewise in another and then in a third and so throughout all parts of our Duty It is better to be temperate in all things than to run to the full excess of Riot to do Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. then to practice wrong or deceit at any time It is better to observe the several parts and stated seasons of Worship than to live in irreligion or contempt of God It is grievous to have forsaken God and it is good to draw near and hold fast unto him in every thing this may be known by that long series and tryal how it is with the condition of Mankind those several dispensations and accidents the sundry changes and chances of this mortal Life the temptations and what may
thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea which mounts up and ascends on high So it is here said in the following Verse of this Psalm last quoted I will praise thee with Vprightness of Heart when I shall have learned thy righteous Judgments Both which are given to signifie and from hence we may learn that the Happiness of God's chosen doth not only consist in a perfect Peace and true Satisfaction of Mind tho' these are things very desirable and beyond what the World gives But it breaks forth into Singing and Joy unspeakable full of Glory That I may see the Good of thy chosen that I may rejoyce in the Gladness of thy Nation Psal 106. 5. Here are ascending Steps one after another There is not only a Freedom from Evil and Misery nor yet only a Stayedness and full Content of Mind but it hath further Delight and Refreshment and also can express it self forth as others shew forth outward Signes of Rejoycing So that when the World shall be perfectly obedient and what is consequent to that reconciled unto God when his People shall be all righteous Isa 60. 21. and each Man and Woman throughout the Earth observe all Parts and every least Tittle of their Duty to God they shall not be dull nor yet in deep Silence But they shall be more merry talkative and pleasant in speaking of and praising God for his wonderful works than now they are or have ever yet been about other things Their Heart shall rejoyce as through Wine their Heart shall rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. which will very much exceed the Mirth of Tabret or Harp or the Joy of Feasts Their Talking shall be of God's Doings declaring his Truth and singing forth the Praises of the Lord In which they shall find more Variety yea and agreeable Satisfaction than heretofore in spending their Time in hearing or telling of some new thing some little Novelty idle Story or foolish Jesting They shall more rejoyce in the several Parts of Duty than formerly in the Pleasures of Sin for a Season All the Briskness and pretended Merriment of that compared with the Joy and Exstacy of God's Chosen shall be darkened and exceeded as the Light of the Moon is by that of the Sun or as the small and faint burning of a Candle is to the Lights of Heaven The seeming Activity of Souldiers and men of Valour all that Shew of Briskness Renown and Courage whereby in Times past the Abaddon and Destroyer hath stirred up Thousands to butcher and kill one another shall be infinitely exceeded by the Lord of Hosts and by his Army of Saints according to what is written They shall run like mighty Men They shall climb the Wall like Men of War and they shall march every one on his Ways and they shall not break their Ranks They shall run to and fro in the City they shall run upon the Walls they shall climb up upon the Houses They shall enter in at the Windows like a Thief and the Lord shall utter his Voice before his Army for his Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his Word for the Day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it Joel 2. 7 9 11. Their Speed Resolution and Order shall as much exceed that of the most excellent and victorious Army which was ever heard of since the VVorld began as they do a Flock or Herd of Sheep God is glorified by Action when the Powers which he hath given are exerted and then he will give yet more when little Creatures do great things when what before lay hid is put forth Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power Psal 110. 3. The Lord himself shall again awake as one out of Sleep and like a Giant refreshed with VVine As he endues every thing that hath Life and Breath with Powers of Action or Motion so himself will cause that that it be manifested forth he will subdue his Enemies in the hindermost Parts and put them to a perpetual Shame Those tormenting Passions shall be stretched out and come sorth in the VVicked So again the delighting Affections shall be stirred up in the Good and vent forth in the utmost Gladness and Pleasure Thou shalt increase my Greatness and comfort me on every Side I will also praise thee with the Psaltery even thy Truth O my God unto thee will I sing with the Harp O Thou holy One of Israel My Lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee and my Soul which thou hast redeemed Psal 71. 21 22 23. Here in this VVorld of Opposition Sin and Temptation we do meet with great and sore Troubles but when once those are done away there will succed a more than proportionable Degree of Joy and Consolation This is figured by that Phrase so usual in the Prophets of Joy in the Harvest It is but a faint and imperfect Comparison to set forth the Transports and Extasies which shall be of God's People As a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his Bride so shall the Lord rejoyce oves his People and they reciprocally shall joy in the God of their Salvation who were formerly possessed with Horrour and Dread they do at length arrive at Reverence and Good-will and then their Souls do greatly rejoyce in God and he doth put Gladness into their Hearts more than can be expressed by Corn and Wine or any worldly thing When we do sincerely and actually endeavour to be holy as he that hath called us is holy then he is perfectly reconciled unto us Notwithstanding his infinite Greatness he doth humble himself to become familiar to our Nature All former Averseness and Enmity are vanished away And we being fully resolved to keep his Commandments at all Times and that our Lord shall guide us continually he doth according to his gracious Promise keep him in perfect Peace whose Mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth on thee We may see and perceive a tittle Representation hereof in the Communion of Saints here on Earth who when they are obedient and like-minded do find exceeding Joy and Sweetness with one another as they talk of and derive it down from the God above The like will be much more in the Times of universal Reformation when the whole Earth shall be at Rest and Quiet it shall break forth into Singing Isa 14. 7. the one before the other The Pleasures of Sin or the Laughter of the World are not so much to that as sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbal compared with the best Musick All carnal Joy is now sudden mix'd and unsatisfying But what comes down from the Father of Spirits or arises from doing his Will that doth remain and is sincere gives a blessed Expectation till we awake after his Likeness and are satisfied with it The Joy is suitable with our imperfect Condition here it increases as we grow up towards Perfection and is in us a Well of Water springing up unto eternal
seek their own good directly and immediately in the first place and have more respect unto that than to the Glory and Law of God they are apt to mistake sudden Ease and Pleasure or present Conveniency for real Good and to measure their Obligations and Rules of Duty by what seems to make for or against that If they imagine the thing may expose them to Danger and Trouble then it is asked Doth the Lord require it of them And they will find out a Delusion or conceit to themselves that he doth not or they would willingly be excused nay some run into that Danger and common Error seeing that the Lord hath commanded all his Commandments for our good always they think such an Instance is not for their good and from thence they would conclude that it is none of God's Commandments The Errour lies in their own Mind and wrong Imagination for the thing is true as God hath established it Whatsoever he hath commanded is for our present Peace and Comfort and future Recompence But many through want of Knowledge Faith and Trust on God do not discern it is so Certainly present Peace and future Glory is much beyond the utmost good that was ever had by Sin and Transgression The first is sensible and of the other we have assured Hope and Evidence from the same God whom it is impossible to love and even now gives us the things which we taste see handle and enjoy Such Food is nevertheless good and wholesome though a sick Stomach cannot relish it so but it may seem to that evil and bitter And when by Reason of Iniquity the whole Head is sick and the whole Heart is faint then it cannot so clearly apprehend and perceive the Sweet and Goodness of Obedience and Duty The things are nevertheless real and the very same though Blindness doth not see them and Ignorance doth not know them And so it is of the whole divine Will and Commandment which is excellent and Profitable Her Ways are Ways of Pleasantness and all her Paths are Peace Pro. 3. 17. Albeit those who are alienated from the Life of God do not throughly conceive how it is so It was God who put this Goodness into things for that is the Return made upon the several days Work of the Creation And God saw that it was good Gen. 1 12. so it was in their original Nature and so it is in their further Establishment and Order for they are Derivations from his own Essence God who is infinitely good cannot make any thing but what good is Thus it is as to all his Works and Doings He cannot command any thing but what is also good Indeed through the Intermixture of Sin and Evil which came in afterwards there may be Trouble and Resistance Through the Wiles and Hindrances of Satan and the Powers of Darkness there may be Care and Vexation but to avoid and overcome is Joy and Glory To countermine and resolutely go on still to behold Satan falling from Heaven as Lightning and to have the Spirits subject unto us Here is exceeding Triumph and praising God on this Behalf Our Nature loves to have Opposition and rejoyces to get over it The utmost here is but the like Pain and Trouble which others willingly undergo for the things of this World and they are contented though they act upon Uncertainty and Expectation and if they should at length obtain yet they cannot keep but must be taken away from it But for the good things God hath promised the Way to come at them is chalked out in his Word and shewed in our Mind And we know when we do accordingly as plainly as when a Master commands his Servant to go he heareth his Voice and goeth accordingly There is alike and greater Comfort of Mind in doing the Will of God as a Man hath when he returneth from his daily Work in the Evening And there is the full Assurance of Faith and Hope unto the End as when one hath done something more towards it and expects to see an End and enjoy the Fruits of his Labours The present Acts are little and sudden but the good and evil are more remote and distant yet assuredly consequent to them This will render either happy or miserable and as the several Actions will do this more or less so they are to be desired or avoided Is such a thing for our present Happiness or Misery which is for a Moment But how stands it as to our future Happiness or Misery which is exceeding and eternal And this should chiefly sway and determine us in whatever we take in hand knowing that the Time to come will be equally present and remain longer before us than this Moment in which we now live The less Concern must give way to the greater Eternity is to be preferred before Time for our self is as nearly concerned in one as in the other The Commandments of God are said to be for our good always even now henceforth and for ever and ever The good which is now only in Beginning doth increase till it ascends up into eternal Life and Blessedness But as to the Neglect and Violation of them the utmost pretended Benefit thereof is only a sudden Conveniency or momentary Sweetness which soon endeth in Regret of Bitterness and unless God's Mercy and our own Repentance doth interpose it renders us liable unto endless Pain and Punishment In Obedience and Righteousness there is even at this present Time a sensible Comfort Joy and Peace Now what more can be desired in this World What is more valuable than perfect Peace Or that full Assurance and Stayedness of Mind which is contented with the present but withal desires after better and greater things to come Even now to delight in God and to pant and thirst after a more full and close Enjoyment of him To walk with Chearfulness and Pleasure in the Way of his Commandments To have a further hungring after Righteousness but yet a most earnest coveting after the heavenly Reward and Blessedness To take with a quiet Mind all the several Dispensations and kinds of Providence holding our Faith and trust still I will hope yet continually and praise thee yet more and more To magnifie and bless God still when things seem contrary for there will yet be a right and an expected End Although the Fig-Tree shall not blossom yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation Hab. 3. 18. The apprehension of him above makes all things here below sweet and the worst such as may be endured For God will in the mean time give strength to bear and assured deliverance out of it By this may be seen the weakness of our condition that we are so very fearful of every Evil that can or we imagine may do us the least hurt And also there is a sense of our want and imperfection of our poor and low Estate that we are so greedy and catching after
Safety and Pleasure but doth lead into Danger and Punishment as we are assured by that God who made and knows all things If such a thing doth certainly deprive of more Good and involve into a greater Evil than now it makes a Pretence to bring or hinder from a Man who is endued but with common Understanding and Caution for himself knows what he hath to do even to decline and avoid that thing as is ordinarily done in worldly Matters If you do but stretch this very same Principle of acting a little further than this present Time and it will engage to renounce those very things which others so greedily catch and seek after We are but in a Maze and ignorant Perplexity whilst we look after or are swayed by the Effects and Consequences of things for we may indeed imagine but we know not what they will be and by vain Surmises and Fears we may be kept off from doing Righteous things and what we ought But let us first mind what is written How readest thou And in Simplicity of Soul and according to the best of our Knowledge How understandest thou And according to what the Lord Commands or Directs in his Word so will we speak and do Shewing our selves as obedient Children and then let the Lord to do with us as seemeth him good Observing all manner of Duty come what will thereof They that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal 9. 10. Were we assured of this and could we fully depend upon it we should not use irregular or unlawful means to prevent at first nor afterwards to be relieved out of our Distresses Neither should we so much fail and be discouraged in our Mind but be sure not to leave off waiting on the Lord. Did we verily and undoubtedly belâ—eve at first what the Lord will perform at last with what Chearfulness and Activity should we go on But the clear Manifestation of this is somewhat hidden and concealed from us to exercise our Faith and Trust and to prove our Obedience in the mean while We should always act by foregoing Thought even in the least and more Inconsiderable Actions of our Life and at every time have a right Knowledge and also an over-ruling Thought which should actually incline us to the better and safer side That our Hearts may be as the Vineyard of our Lord which he will â—…ter every Moment with the continued Distillings of his Grace and Goodness which may prevent and help against the Suggestions and Imaginations of Sin and Evil and it may be throughly applied to fulfil thy Statutes always even unto the End If God suffers us sometimes to be in Temptation we should constantly discern when we are so and have a Thought continually whereby we may overcome and not be led away by it If we can come off Conquerors at one time why not at another and so a third and thus pass through the several Seasons of Trial. The thing is possible and that Satisfaction of Mind of resisting the Temptation is much greater than the Pleasure would have been in yielding unto it By what Thought of Good thou didst prevail at one time thou mayst likewise at another and in all the Questions and Doubts of Mind thou mayst have still what shall determine thee to God and Duty When thou dost well and rightly Thank thy God for it and keep this still in the Imagination of thy Heart that it may again help to serve in time of Need and Trial having always in Mind a Divine over-ruling Thought which may actually perswade it against all manner of Temptation Lust or Hindrance The Moralist observes that it is better to have a few good Precepts of Life for a Man to constantly act by than a great multitude of them for those are more easily retained in Mind whereas a Multiplicity doth confound or perplex or we let them slip or each hath not so forcible a Constraint over us And indeed a few right Principles of Good which are kept continually and pondered in the Heart which are general and extend to our several Actions and will indeed engage our Practice accordingly These will more help to our Salvation than all the Variety of Knowledge which last may indeed furnish the Understanding but the practical part doth exercise unto Godliness and preserves the patient Continuance in well-doing What keeps in Obedience and maintains Good Works will be found more Useful and Beneficial to Mankind than any other thing However it be highly esteemed amongst Men and this is lessened and despised for it obtains the greater Good and serves to the more excellent End The great Matter is to rightly understand every tittle of our Duty now that we may do it and also the manner of Distribution how it shall be rendred to every one according to his Work at the end of things that we may not lose any future Reward for the present Pleasures of Sin or Gains of Unrighteousness or by any Omission of what we should do To know the utmost in all things present and have such a lively Faith in things to come as to be perswaded of them and embrace them Heb. 11. 13. and also act in pursuance after them We are as much assured as that we now live and we have the same certainty as of the things we see handle and converse withall that God hath provided better things for us even so very great and enduring that it is not possible for us little and mortal Creatures to conceive Nay the little member of the Tongue which boasts of great things cannot utter them forth to the very extent and reality as they are and they being reserved in God's hand and disposal according to his good Word and precious Promises wherefore we labour to the utmost that we may be accepted of him The more we know of our present weak little imperfect and miserable Condition here in the Body it doth press us more urgently so to have our Conversation in this World that it may be changed into the contrary and desirable Qualities of Good and Perfection Our manifold Affliction doth make us the more earnestly desire and that is in vain unless we use the means accordingly that we may come to that place where we shall be comforted for the evil things we had here Every thing we meet withal doth carry Instruction and Exhortation if we had that Heavenly and Spiritual Art to observe and improve them accordingly That we may be always put in remembrance of and quickened in our Duty That whilst we are among the things here below we may refer them all upwards Though our Body is confined to this place yet our Spirit conceives as wide as the vast Air. The Mind conceives and enters within the Vail and is always thinking against the time she shall fly out hence how she may secure her Rest there If I may by any means attain to the Mansions
us than with them who flourish and encrease most in worldly Goods May we not more surely rely upon God's infallible VVord that it shall be well with us than the vain and deceitful Promises of others or our own Imaginations in our own Designs and Enterprizes for we know by experience that we are often beguiled and mistaken as to both but the Lord never said to the House of Jacob Seek ye my face in vain Neither is he wanting as some are apt to doubt to make good his Promises at the present time But they do err in misapprehending of them for the great and precious Promises are yet a far off And now the Divine Goodness is only engaged so far as to give us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness to preserve Health and Strength of Body and he puts Grace and Consolation into the Soul that we may Perform And if we are at any time cast down yet we should not then be so discouraged as to neglect utterly and leave from Duty In the name of God let us go on and take whatever we shall meet withal for the time is short and hasteneth away VVnither we Rejoice or Rejoice not whether we Laugh or Mourn whether we are in good plight and steadfastness of Mind or are heavy and cast down It all goes on and we flie away And whatever is done here it is for Eternity Either it passes into Condemnation or it makes way for Repentance There is one Event to him that Sacrificeth or him that Sacrificeth not and this is found so by daily Experience But the same word of Truth saith That we must appear before the Judgment Seat of Chist to receive for the things we have done whether they be Good or Evil. It is certain that the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. And this will much exceed both as to the delightful or tormenting Nature whatever is esteemed so here The Acts are suddenly over and so the Joy or Sorrow of of them is suddenly slipt by And indeed it is strange that a reasonable Creature should be so much concerned as to that fugitive thing of Joy or Sorrow but his care and sollicitation should be to what it tends at last Nothing is so good as to be truly desirable and nothing is so bad but what may be endured And therefore the first is not to be eagerly catched after but to be carefully avoided if it should lead and beguile into Misery and likewise the other may be chosen and submitted unto if it makes for and increases our Crown and Reward I mean as to the Delights and Pleasures of Sin so of the seeming pain and trouble of Duty The first are nevertheless to be abstained from the others to be willingly undertaken if they help unto good in the latter end And tho this may seem harsh and uncouth at first yet it is both Practicable and easie to him who is exercised therein It is thus by custom and continuance and afterwards it grows up into Delight and sincere Satisfaction Notwithstanding all vain fears and surmises anxious care or sinful distrust yet by thus doing he shall have more Happiness yea and be sensible of less Misery even as to this present time than possibly the one can be had or the other avoided by all Irreligion or the pretended wisdom and caution of any Disobedience Much more might be said as to this Point But as the truth may be cleared so again the force and perswasion thereof may be lost by multiplicity of words and therefore it is convenient to add no more upon this particular Head of Discourse especially there having been so much demonstrated in the fore-cited Book of Happiness and as to the several Heads of Good and Evil there treated of so that he who will not perceive nor be convinced by what hath been already said neither would he be perswaded if ten thousand words were more added to the same purpose CHAP. V. Herein sundry Things are written against them who will not be perswaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude BUT why do I mention this In vain is the Pen of the Writer or the Tongue of the Speaker for some obstinate and stubborn Souls do therefore refuse it They will not be tied and confined to live according to Words either they will be despisers or stubborn not to mind at all or practice just contrary or otherwise Indeed one would admire by what kinds of method Satan's Kingdom doth stand by what slender Threads he holds Men Captive at his will for do but once examin and touch them and they will fall and snap asunder Those Imaginations which he puts into the Hearts of Men and Women and thereby works in them with all deceiveableness yet when they are once known they are presently confuted The falshood and danger of them are so clearly laid open that themselves may see it and so they need not miscarry through all his Delusions if they would but receive the knowledge of the Truth that they might be Saved Amongst the several things which Satan Who deceives the whole World Rev. 12. 9. doth suggest and each Man keeps close in the deep of his Heart That aforementioned is a common and generally received Imagination which they hug and hold fast And to confirm them the more therein they will have a seeming excuse for it because so many go about troubling Christians with Words and there is such a multitude of words in the World such hold it the better way once for all to reject them and not to be limited or confined to live according to Words But they should do well in the first place to consider what it is they thus set at naught and cast off even what they shall not prosper nor be blessed in Their root shall be as rottenness and their blossom shall go up as dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the word of the holy one of Israel Isa 5. 24. These are the words which they will not be guided by nor give heed unto They refuse obedience and subjection unto Almighty God just like their fore Fathers A stubborn and rebellious Generation that kept not the Covenant of God and refused towalk in his Law Psal 78. 10. They rebelled against the words of God and contemned the Counsel of the most High Psal 107. 111. Now these words of God are contained in Scripture which is his Statute-Book for his government of the World All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. As saith another Apostle For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. At this the People are so impatient and will not be governed by it which is downright Disobedience and manifest Sin and shall receive a due Punishment thereof for Sin is the transgression
Isa 65. 5. which he could not endure and would have behind or a far off from him Indeed the infinite Holiness and Uprightness of God is in no wise reconcileable to Man's Sin and Corruption and he doth the more abominate and loath it when he beholds it covered with the Mask and Visour of Hypocrisie Who is all-Wise and all Knowing he doth pity and despise our Folly and Ignorance but it is a further Aggravation so that he cannot or rather will not endure therewith when Worms of the Earth would be wise beyond their Maker or pretend to know otherwise than he knoweth and hath decreed or purposed It doth provoke him justly to Anger That when the Sun Moon and Stars and the whole Family in Heaven so much Greater and more Excellent Creatures than we do observe the Law which he hath made And seeing he hath given unto Men Laws which are Holy Righteous and Good he hath shewed unto us strait ways yet stubborn and disobedient Man will not keep and walk in them but every one is for walking after the Imagination of his own evil Heart And as they live and are joined together in Civil Society so this carries on the course of the World and each Person doth make a part of and contribute unto the universal Sin and Wickedness The word Imagination doth import no set Rule of Action but it is a Wandring or Guess Now it thinks it may be thus but is afterward mistaken And this is so much the worse as the End is more excellent which it aims at Now that End is Good and Happiness Every Soul as aforesaid is in pursuit thereof and his several Actions are intended accordingly There is One God over all One rule of Action in his Word One End of everlasting Happiness or Misery and all the deeds done in the Body are as so many Steps to one or the other This is actually so though too many perceive it not nor consider thereof in the time of Probation and Tryal To walk all along in a vain and false Imagination and be deceived at last when this is but once for all Eternity when there is no possible Redress of this Errour must very much enhanse the Folly and Misery of such a Man The first Errour and Evil is in having departed from God and casting away his Fear and exempting himself from his Obedience For though it is so suffered in this Life to prove Mankind more perfectly that it may be seen It is possible for him to run out his days here without having due regard and respect to his Maker and Preserver yet it is known unto God and also Revealed unto us how he will be pleased to deal further with them Even according as we order our Conversation and as our doings are That Word by which we are to Live be Judged and receive accordingly doth now forewarn and acquaint us that things will be otherwise or contrary to what they appear now For that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. And so what is universally received and fashionable among us will be rejected and even loathed by him He hath left another Rule to follow than the Multitude or the meer Example of others An Holy Man of God doth speak on this wise Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. But no otherwise for Christ had done no Violence neither was any deceit found in his Mouth He was the Holy one of God and in him was found no Sin So that if we do the same which he did we may be assured that it is not Sinful Again his Meat and Drink was to do the will of God and he did always the things which pleased his Heavenly Father So that if therein we follow his Steps as we have him for an Example and do the like things that he did we may hereby know that we do the will of God also and what is pleasing and acceptable in his Sight But every Man besides is a Liar for they have all both Saint and Sinner none excepted varied and gone aside either in some single transient Instances or in many continued ones from the Word of Truth and from the right way It is Written And thou shalt not go aside from any of the Words which I command thee this day to the right hand or to the left Deut. 28. 14. That is neither to one Extream nor yet to the other But where is the Man or Woman who have not gone aside from any of the words wich the Lord God hath Commanded in the Bible both as it comprehends all that is written in the Old and New Testament Both Jews and Gentiles yea all Mankind of every Generation and Country are under Sin and have come short of what God requied in his Law So that whoever doth follow any of these Examples in all things even of the most Perfect and Upright among the meer Sons of Men he will go aside with them even unto the Transgression So that the word of God is to be our Rule and not the Example of others However prone and subject the People of the World are to follow the Examples of their Fellow Creatures and to do what others do of near the same Age Condition and Circumstances of Life yet in these times of the Universal Reformation of the World which is now drawing on in these latter days we must labour and endeavour Mightily to beat off and dissuade People from acting according to that dangerous and mistaken Principle of following the Multitude and being led by the Example of others For besides that to follow the Multitude is a sure token that such are amongst those many which go in the Broad way which leads unto Dsstruction and they are not amongst those few in the Narrow way which leadeth unto Life Matt. 7. 13 14. This seems to lye as the greatest Prejudice against the ways of God That though all his Commandments are Just Holy and Good And it is meet and right for all People at all times to observe the same Yet still nevertheless very few People do observe them When the Scripture speaks of those glorious times Thy People also shall be all Righteous Isa 60. 21. And how that the Sinners will be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked will be no more Psal 104. 35. For in what Prayer the Spirit of Truth doth Dictate is included a Promise that so it shall be As we read these and alike Places what in the Prophet's Phrase is a very lovely Song Ezek. 33. 32. And Peter reciteth from the faying of others As if the Scriptures were a cunningly devised Fable So in our way of speaking those Scriptures seem to be as a pleasant Romance which contain things that were to be indeed wished and desired but at first sight they do not seem to be grounded on Truth for the thing neither as yet is so and there is no
returned from the Slaughter of the Kings But when God shall do that last and great Act as to cause that Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2. 4. VVhich Scripture hath not been as yet fulfilled But is to be fulfilled according to that Divine Method and Dispensation The Word and things of God shall be fulfilled in their Season Luke 1. 20. Then the Lord bringeth forth the Chariot-Horse the Army and the Power They shall lye down together they shall not rise they ore Extinct they are quenched as Tow Isa 43. 17. God will bring them forth to shew only and not for Use and Service That this righteous and peaceable Generacion may just see what kinds of Instruments their Fore-Fathers a Rebellious and stubborn Generation did make use of to kill and destroy which they who shall feed like Lambs after their manner Isa 5. 17. will hardly believe without seeing them that ever so much Violence and Mischief should be in the Hearts of Men or that such Instruments of Cruelty and Destruction should be found in their Habitations But as the Lord commanded that a Pot full of Manna should be laid up before the Lord in their Generations that they may see the Bread wherewith I have fed you in the Wilderness when I brought you forth from the Land of Egypt Exod. 16. 32 33 34. So it is convenient and requisite that some of each sort of those Weapons and devices of VVar should be kept for a Testimony that the Generations following may just see how it was with the Earth when God Created the Smith that bloweth the Coals in the Fire and that bringeth forth an Instrument for his Work and that had created the Waster to destroy Isa 54. 16. When at thy Rebuke O God of Jacob the Chariot and Horse are cast into a dead Sleep Psal 76. 6. Never to awake out of it again For it is before said The stout hearted are spoiled they have slept their Sleep they are bereaved and stript of those Engines wherewith they did execute their Revenge and Terror in the Land of the Living And now they have slept their sleep they have done all their do which they must never do again What they did then do was as much at random and uncertainty from the true and proper ends of Man's Life which was intended for Preservation and not for the Destruction of others and at last of themselves by so doing as Sleep is now different from Waking for in Sleep we Dream and think confusedly without the use of Reason and Knowledge But they shall lye down together they shall not rise There is an utter end of all that they are extinct as Tow the Wrath of Man which did heretofore kindle all this God shall restrain Surely the Wrath of Man shall Praise thee the remainder of Wrath shalt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. So as it shall go no further and then it will sink and come to nothing of it self They are quenched as Tow. If it would begin to smoak again God will take care to put it out that it shall burn no more Where his Prophet uses these kind of pertinent and significative Phrases he immediately adds Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it Isa 43. 18 19. This is as much as if God should say Ye may just see and think of those former things but they are not worthy of your Remembrance and Consideration in comparison to that new thing which God will do which shall be both more pleasant Entertainment to the Minds of his Creatures and it shall be infinitely more satisfactory for them to be employ'd therein than heretofore in making Preparations for War or hearing tidings from the Camp I will even make a way in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert The Holy Ghost seems here to allude unto the March of an Army with their Power who being to pass through a Wilderness or Desarts send those before them to make way as by cutting down the Woods and Briars and making rough places plain and removing great Stones or Rubbish As also to guide and conduct them in the intricate way As also to seek out Forage Food and Water for Man and for Beast if they can find out Springs and Rivers in the Desert wherein is least likelihood of any and therein is most want of them But God will supply all this to his Creatures or make up unto them what is signified thereby The Beasts of the Field shall Honour me the Dragons and the Owls Because I give Waters in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert to give drink to my People my chosen V. 20. Besides that Satisfaction and Content which without doubt is in the irrational but sensible Creatures upon Gods being their Creator and Maker and also for his providing all things necessary and convenient for them Hereby also may be signified That when those ungodly Men and Women who have been transformed after the manner of Beasts and have those inward Qualities and likeness unto Dragons and Owls as to love Destruction and hate the Light do come to see and know what God doth for his Elect People They will come to Honour and have an inward reverential Esteem of him also This People have I formed for my self They shall shew forth my Praise Ver. 21. Here is the drift and design the End and Consummation of all that as God made Men and Women They should even now as in the latter days they shall be purely formed for himself They shall shew forth his Praise That is They shall have no other End but God and to lay out themselves for him and God shall be their All in All and nothing shall be heard amongst them but Praises Praises to the Lord. Then the World will be as it should be CHAP. VII There will be an End of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God WHen the Earth shall be reformed and become Righteous this effect will also be seen and perceived There shall be no more Hatred of and Persecution against the Servants of God They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. It hath been always and in all places found That where is most of the Knowledge of the Lord that is such Knowledge as is true Saving and Sanctifying there hath been least Persecution as again where hath been most Ignorance and Darkness there the Persecuting work hath gone forward and abounded But when the World shall be thus universally replenished with the Knowledge of the Lord there will not be the least degree nor manner of it not so much as to hurt Body or Soul as to lay any hardship or restraint upon the first nor yet to tempt or cause the
Soul to Sin or be wanting in Duty Both which do now occasion Vexation of Spirit But they shall see and be ashamed for the Envy of the People Isa 26. 11. That is whereas heretofore the World did envy at the People of God from whence did spring up their Hatred and unkind usage of them thinking that such would be more Happy and Blessed than themselves in the end But when God shall also manifest unto them the Favour that even the Wicked had That even they might have learned Righteousness and beheld the Majesty of the Lord see the foregoing Verse They shall be so ashamed for ever having maligned and done despitefully against his Servants as they shall never do it more And whereas also heretofore the Churches had sometimes Rest from their Enemies and again at other Times they were made Havock of and Persecuted This did happen interchangeably and successively as was before observed that at some times some Countries would fear the Lord greatly and then remisly or negligently and not at all And as there was a time of War and a time of Peace among the Nations so likewise as to this we have the certain and assured Promise of the Lord. Also I will ordain a place for my People Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place neither shall the Children of Wickedness waste them any more as at the beginning 1 Chron. 17. 9. He will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1. 9. This as may be seen from the two foregoing Verses is spoken as to that day of Trouble which hath come upon his Servants that trusted in the Lord their Strong-hold which was stirred up and occasioned unto them by the Enemies of the Lord emphatically and truly called his Enemies though they did shew themselves so to his Church that is his People And when as to many of his Prophets his Son Jesus Christ his Apostles Ministers and People Affliction did arise up not only the second time but even in Job's Phrase The Lord was with them even to seven Troubles Job 5. 19. Yea and to Seventy times seven for their whole Life was a continued Train and Series and Succession of Trouble and Affliction How then was this found true Affliction shall not rise up the second time And indeed it cannot be otherwise understood and believed but that God hath another day shortly coming in the which he will fulfil and make good this his Word when God will Return How long This question shews how impatient and desirous our Nature is of it How long O Lord Holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 6. 10. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. So that it will Repent him concerning his Servants O satisfie us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days and make us glad according to the days he hath afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen Evil Psal 90. 13 14 15. for the Lord shall judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he seeth that their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left Deut. 32. 36. Like Sheep they are laid in the Grave Death shall feed on them and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49. 14. Now to make the like Application of all these Scriptures here laid together as Peter did in Acts 1. 16. Men and Brethren who shall read or hear this these Scriptures must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake by the Mouth of Moses David Isaiah and Jesus Christ hath spoken before concerning that poor afflicted and persecuted Condition of the People of God How they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors Isa 14. 2. The Power of these Oppressors shall be utterly gone and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them God shall repent himself for that hard Condition he suffered his Servants to go through with and he will satisfie and make them glad for it Now it being manifest that all this good Word is not as yet performed on this Earth and in this Life from the like Reasoning which the same Apostle Peter makes use of Acts 2. 29 30 31. Acts 3. 21. We may assuredly gather and believe That in the Resurrection and Restitution of all things God will most certainly make good this his Word That all things which are written may be fulfilled And that there will be a beginning and entrance into this Blessed State towards the latter days here on the Earth when the Lord shall reign before his Ancients gloriously And all things shall exactly so come to pass according as he hath aforespoken of in his word When the Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb Isa 11. 6. and there shall be a Concordance and Agreement between the most fierce and devouring Natures of Men and Women with the most calm meek and peaceable Dispositions according to what is further written and confirmed The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. To make way and prepare for this glorious day of universal Holiness and Righteousness is the end of all our Preaching and Writing and laying before Men and VVomen all the Words of Truth which we can The Lord saith I will come near to you to Judgment Mal. 3. 5. So according to the goings forth and Emanations of his Eternal Truth God doth come nearer to the Children of Men both for Good and Comfort to his Saints and Servants as also for Terror and Punishment to the Ungodly and Disobedient For that thy Name is near Thy wondrous Works declare Psal 75. 11. God in Scripture is sometimes said to be afar off and he is invisible So that he cannot be otherwise shewn forth and made known unto others but in his VVorks and by his Name Both which are declared by fit proper and true words So that the Reader need not to be offended at the multitude of them here used if they help to make the invisible God more known unto the Inhabitants of the Earth and render him as it were visible yea and sensible unto their Souls If we do not darken counsel by words without knowledge but according to the measure of the gift in us our words become instrumental that the things pertaining to God's Kingdom are rendred yet clearer and clearer that the Children of Men may more easily understand and perceive them than we do the VVork and VVill of God As I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Isa 38. 18. If
Righteousness and Holiness were ingrafted into the Hearts of all Men so that they did live and were led by it at all times and in all places The Spirit of God would dwell in them 1 Cor. 3. 16. As God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord God Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. VVhat is requisite to all this we may read in the first Verse of the following Chapter Having therefore these Promises both those aforementioned are included for it is expressed in the plural number let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Be ye clean ye that bear the Vessels of the Lord Isa 52. 11. And from what is written Thou hast taken Captivity Captive VVe learn that God hath taken even Sin and Corruption Captive which heretofore did hold the Children of Men in Slavery and Captivity But when every Thought in them also is brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ God will plant somewhat else in the room thereof Thou hast received Gifts for Men even the qualifications of his Grace and the fruits of his Spirit Yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Psal 68. 18. So that though Men and Women have been Rebellious and Disobedient formerly yet when those Rebellious Thoughts and Imaginations are brought into Captivity when the Gifts of God are first lodged in the Soul to make it ready and meet beforehand the Lord God himself will come and dwell amongst them also So that whereas it was before mentioned And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with Man for that he also is Flesh Gen. 6. 3. And the reason hereof was assigned because the Flesh did so very often overcome the Spirit when the Children of Men did Rebel and Vex and Grieve and Quench the Spirit yet the Blessing and Saying of Gad is made good and herein is found true A Troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at last Gen. 49. 19. So a Troop of Lusts and a Legion for they are many of Temptations have overcome the Spirit but the Spirt shall overcome them at last And the Spirit shall have that Dominion and Prevalency in the hearts of all Men that all its Dictates and Motions shall be so willingly and immediately obeyed and complied withal that there shall be no striving of the Spirit with Man for he shall forthwith and presently go as that commands him to go and come as that bids him to come and do this or that according as the Spirit saith without any such thing as Reasoning and Perswasion or striving in the Heart for there will not be the least Reluctancy or Unwillingness God who sees and knows the things afar off doth foresee this also that even Flesh will become so Spiritual that they shall obey all his Commands and execute his Statutes without any striving of the Spirit but only upon the first motion and making of it known unto their Hearts CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High IF it be asked But when shall these things be I Answer Tho there may be some tendency and preparation thereto in the mean while yet we must not expect nor look for it absolutely and fully Vntil the Spirit be poured down upon us from on High Isa 32. 15. Which shall acquaint us with the things of God and of Heaven in a most wonderful and plentiful manner that we shall then know them as clearly distinctly and truly as now we do the common things of this Earth which are now visible and present before us My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain My Speech shall distill as the Dew as the small Rain upon the tender Herb and as the showers upon the Grass Deut. 32. 2. After that very manner hath the Word and Spirit of the Lord came to the several Men and Women of the former Generations by Droppings and Distillings like small Rain and as the Dew or Showers But this pouring forth of the Spirit upon us from on High will be like great Drops running on continually together or raining down Bucket fulls at once as the common proverbial Speech is When all the Fountains of the great Deep shall be broken up and the windows of Heaven shall be opened Gen. 7. 11. In this sence also So that all the things that are in the Earth or Sea or in the Hearts of the Children of Men shall be openly disclosed and made known And the windows of Heaven shall be opened so that we shall as clearly see and perceive the things there as now by looking through the Window thereof we see the things that are in such a Room of an House as when we are in it and look through the Casement we see the things in the next adjoining Court And that it will be all thus made known Universally at once we are given to understand by what is Written Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness Let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have Created it Isa 45. 8. God hath made and ordained that it shall be so that the Heavens shall drop down the things contained therein They shall be so made known unto and had by us as if they were actually dropped down and next to us The Earth also shall open and bring forth the things contained in her which heretofore lay underneath and hidden All this shall be done together And it is observable how they are all expressed by these two VVords Righteousness and Salvation By the first is shewn forth the nature of them as they are fixed and connected together after the Image of him who Created them that is in eternal and immutable Righteousness And because that in the Earth those things are which now hurt and destroy therefore God who causeth Light to shine out of Darkness and by his own way of working Which is marvellous in our eyes will cause that both Heavens and Earth do open and let them It is expressed in the Plural Number and therefore both of them shall have an hand and part in it As to bring forth Salvation and Righteousness is to spring up together with it Intimating that besides that Righteousness which the Skies shall pour down another Righteousness shall spring up together with it By the Phrase of Springing up we learn that this will proceed out of the Earth Truth shall spring out of the Earth and Righteousness shall look down from Heaven Plal. 85. 11. That is both
from out of the Hearts of the Inhabitants of the Earth as also from the Element it self And Righteousness shall look down from Heaven more clearly and visibly than ever it hath done yet But wherefore is it that we hear so very much that in the last days of all God will pour out his Spirit upon us from on High Isa 32. 15. For I will pour Water upon him that is Thirsty and Floods upon the dry Ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thine Off-spring Isa 44. 3. And it shall come to pass afterward in the last days saith God Acts 2. 17. that I will pour out out my Spirit upon all Flesh Joel 2. 28. And there is not altogether so much mention made of the Word then For after Jesus Christ who was the Word and the Word was God was taken away in his Bodily Presence from among Men he ordered that his Disciples should tarry at Jerusalem until they had received the promise of the Father and were endued with Power from on High And so in the beginning was the Word and all things were Created by it that were Made And during all this mean while they are upheld by the word of his Power And whilst these Generations pass through here the Word is to them all in all towards the making them a People prepared for the Lord and to give them an Inheritance amongst all them which are Sanctified But at the very ending Conclusion and shutting up of all things The Spirit is to do the main and principal Office But we read not altogether so much of the VVord then as aforetime Besides that the VVord is in Order and Succession of Time before the Spirit for Jesus Christ came first into the Flesh and then afterward the Holy Ghost was given according to that Emphatical Remark of one of the Inspired VVriters for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet Glorified Another great Reason hereof may be assigned That as the Angel sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven and the things that therein are and the Earth and the things that therein are and the Sea and the things which are therein that there should be Time no longer Rev. 10. 16. For Time will be lost and swallow'd up in Eternity as a River or Brook is now lost when it empties it self into the wide Ocean So we may easily gather and understand that when all these things here mentioned shall be so perfectly and wholly made known and seen face to face when what is now afar off and Future shall be Present and just before us when Faith shall be turned into Vision and Hope into Fruition when Prophesies shall fail Tongues cease and Knowledge shall vanish away VVhen the whole Creation of God shall be new and changed from material and sensible things into Spiritual then we may conclude also That WORDS shall be NO LONGER But the things themselves heretofore expressed and apprehended by them shall succeed and be given unto the Creatures God doth all things in his own Order He first made known unto his Creatures the Words of Eternal Life and then afterwards he invests them with the thing it self of Eternal Life and then it is consequent that the words thereof should cease and fail as the Scaffold falls down or is taken away when the Building is Perfected and quite Finished Like as now in common Life there is great talk of such a Person 's coming as of the Messiah among the Ancient Jews but when he is come indeed then all that talk perisheth which did relate thereto For since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa 64. 4. But when that great and enduring thing shall be actually given to the Creature by that God whom he hath waited for then all the thoughts of Heart and words of Mouth that were before concerning it will cease and come to an utter end VVhat Truth we now see written in a dead Letter or we hear in an outward Airy Sound or we conceive in our Mind will one day appear as a shining Ray of Light For Whatever doth make manifest is Light Eph. 5. 13. And all things then will appear in the Light of the Lord. And so this great Matter which we are contending for all along and perswading People unto shall be instantly and altogether done by the Spirit So that Jesus Christ the Son of God shall be delivered from the Strivings of the People and be made the Head of the Heathen and a People whom he hath not known shall serve him As soon as they hear of him they shall Obey him So that there is not need of many more words to enforce the Exhortation But by VVords Knowledge or Notice hath been given that one day so it shall be for all things which are written in the Scriptures of Truth must be fulfilled And also there is this further benefit and use of words that we are hereby taught and put in mind to be in a Readiness and Preparation for the same The VVord doth convert Sinners from the Error of their way like the droppings of Rain or the distillings of Dew that is it doth now and then bring in some individual Persons and that also is done by degrees and in succession of time But the pouring out of the Spirit from on High shall bring them in by shoals and multitudes and do the VVork Instantly and Immediately As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me Then thou shalt see and flow together and thine Heart shall fear and be enlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee the Forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee The Multitude of Camels shall cover thee All the Flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee Who are these that fly as a Cloud and as the Doves to their Windows Isa 60. 5 6 7 8. By all which kinds of Speech we are given to understand that very many in number shall flow and come over and be Converted unto God And the Sons of Strangers shall build up thy Walls This is near to the same purport and meaning as what is said in our great Scripture out of which I have here opened and alledged things all along The Strangert shall submit themselves unto thee The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places Those are Strangers who before had not known God nor Christ For although known unto God are all Men and Women as they are his Creatures yet God and Christ doth not know them as to be in Covenant with them I never knew ye depart from me ye that work Iniquity Matt. 7. 23. But they remain Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel who are without Hope without God in the World And yet here is
the assured Promise that these shall come to be acquainted and submit themselves that is to yield Obedience unto God and his Christ according to what he hath afore spoken of in another Scripture I will say to them which were not my People Thou art my People and they shall say Thou art my God Hos 2. 23. The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places Besides that abundant Conversion of them at last those which shall be converted before they shall so fade away and come off from their former Strangeness towards God as that it shall not be perceived Like Men Ashamed which Steal and flee from Battel so they shall be ashamed of their former Ungodliness and sinful doings So that they would rather seem on the contrary as if they had obeyed and served God from the very first When these come to be acquainted with and to believe a future State and condition of Happiness and Misery they shall look about how to make sure for themselves that they may be happy and sure therein And they shall be afraid out of their close Places or of those Imaginations and Deceits in which heretofore they trusted and built a false Hope on Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Earth observe the Particle All like Dross Psal 119. 119. As wax melteth before the Fire so let the Wicked perish at the presence of God Psal 68. 2. All this will be done more suddenly and as it were at an instant when the times of universal Reformation come on and God doth bow the Heavens and come down and he poureth out his Spirit upon all Flesh Then all VVickedness will so vanish and disappear that the place thereof shall know it no more and it will seem as if there had been never any such thing on the Earth All that gross Darkness and Error will be utterly and for ever gone off from the face of it when this true Light shall begin to shine universally and openly in all the habitable parts thereof The People shall then shew forth their Zeal for the Lord God of Hosts VVho is he that said but so much as in his Heart Shall the invisible God reign over me Or shall I obey his standing and written word Let these People be brought forth that the Saints of the most High may inflict some Punishment on them But they shall not do it in the least For Vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompence saith the Lord. And again The Lord shall judge his People Heb. 10. 30. Deut. 32. 35 36. And the Lord will not begin to execute it then presently when he is glorified in his Saints and had in Honour by all that are round about him As an unknown Malefactor amongst a great multitude of People when he is asked for who did such a Theft or Murther Which being known and evident must be concluded that some one did it he is sure to keep Silence and seem all one as the other innocent People lest he should be betrayed and discovered In like manner it will be when the Lord shall Plead with the Inhabitants of the Earth who will be a vast number gathered together of all Generations and Countries and he maketh Inquisition for so much Sin Iniquity Transgression and Wickedness as hath been actually done on the Earth So much hath been committed and it must have been by some Persons Who was it by Name that did it Then shall they be exceeding sorrowful and afraid and begin every one of them to say Lord is it I The particular Guilty themselves shall keep Silence and they shall be found Speechless Matt. 22. 12. Or if they are asked as concerning another Matter then they will perhaps speak out or deny hereby to wave and take of the suspicion of that also whereof they were indeed Guilty In that day there will hardly be found any who will own themselves to have been amongst the Enemies and Adversaries of the Lord. The Adversaries of the Lord shall be ashamed which as they shall be then conscious of themselves so they will endeavour to hide it as much as they can But they shall be afraid out of their close Places of shelter and absconding whether it be the Clefts of the Rocks or the Holes of the Mountains For though their Fellow Creatures would be puzled hereby end be at a loss and difficulty to whom to assign such hidden things of Dishonesty or many secret acts of Sin and Wickedness And when even the Persons themselves who committed the same shall make such a goodly outward shew of having Worshipped Honoured and served the Lord and they not knowing the limits of his Mercy nor the periods of Time of holding forth his Scepter of Grace nor yet discerning for the Heart of every one is deep the reality and sincerity of their Repentance it is hence impossible that they should either find out or judge Righteously and render accordingly to the several People But the Judge of all the Earth will do Right He is not as Man but a God of Knowledge by whom Actions are weighed 1 Som. 2. 3. Who sees Hearts as clearly as we see the outward Faces and he knows things long since past or yet to come as we do the present Moment In opposition to their Hiding Concealing and Dissembling Thine hand shall find out all thine Enemies Thy Right hand shall find out those that hate thee thou shalt make them as a fiery Oven in the time of thine Anger the Lord shall swallow them up in his Wrath and the Fire shall devour them Psal 21. 8 He will first find and set them out and then afterwards take his own time to punish them According to that Divine Method Having a mind to revenge all Disobedience when your Obedience is fulfilled So he will first have that Seed which shall serve him It shall be accounted to the Lord for a Generation And when the days of their Obedience and Service are fulfilled then he will begin to call to account the former Generations For it is first said Zion shall be redeemed with Judgment and her Converts with Righteousnesness and then afterwards it follows And the destruction of the Transgressors and of the Sinners shall be together Isa 1. 27 28. And I will punish the World for their Evil and the Wicked for their Iniquity Isa 13. 11. But like as it is written I will leave a few Men of them from the Sword and from the Pestilence that they may declare all their Abominations among the Heathen whither they come and they shall know that I am the Lord Ezek. 12. 16. So here it may be supposed that God will have one Righteous Generation after so many Rebellious and Sinful ones that by comparing both those Contraries together I do here speak after the manner of Men He may know how to proceed to Recompence and Punishment We read that when God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth it
all this long Fight and Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth wherein the Lord did Fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth even that two edged Sword which is called the Word of God And these Rebels did again fight with him with all their Vngodly deeds which they have Vngodly committed and with all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Yet after all God hath the better and upper Hand Though they did as it were Murder his own Divine Majesty in putting to Death his Prophets Son and Servants God hath raised up his Son already and he will also raise up all them again and bring them along with him Alive to Judgment when When he will tread down his Enemies in his Anger and Trample them in his Fury Isa 63. 3. and He will slay them Luke 19. 27. serving them as they did his Anointed and his Chosen ones Still the Lord liveth and Blessed be my Rock and let the God of my Salvation be Exalted The Psalmist goes on to speak in the Person of Christ who must Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the People under me He delivereth me from mine Enemies yea thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me Which was eminently fulfilled when those that rose up against him lifted him up upon the Cross and afterwards God lifted him up from the Grave wherein they had put him into the highest Heavens in his Ascension and sitting now at his Right hand where he is now lifted up infinitely above all his Enemies Thou hast delivered me from the violent Man who is as contrary to the Meckness and Gentleness of Christ as a Wolf is to a Lamb. But here God the Everlasting Shepherd who brought again the Lord Jesus from the Dead did deliver and restore this Lamb of God safe again from out of their Mouth after they had taken him and with wicked Hands Crucified him Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the Heathen and sing Praise unto thy Name Great deliverance giveth he to his King who in that day in reality and very deed shall be King both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles yea of all the Earth and to his Anointed which is the very Christ to David and to his Seed for evermore By which last word the Son of David is included of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came and also all the Seed and Children whom the Lord hath given him from the Beginning from thenceforth and for evermore in the most Universal comprehensive and extensive Signification throughout all the Earth and to the end of Time from thenceforth throughout all Eternity Which is here so expressed for our Understanding and Apprehension For there is no passing throughout all Eternity for into that is an entrance and in that is a continuance but no going through any part of what is without Succession of days or ending of time but like God himself the Ancient of days abideth continually the same And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slaâ—n and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing And every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that is in them heard I saying Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5. 9 10 12 13. After this I beheld and lo a great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nationt and Kindred and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their Hands and cried with a loud Voice saying Salvation unto our God which sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be to our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7 9 10 12. FINIS Practical Books Written and Published by Richard Stafford OF Happiness Wherein it is fully and particularly manifested That the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in opposition to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended conveniency of Disobedience Rules and Directions for the prevention of and Recovery out of Sickness A Discourse against Partial Obedience Or that dangerous Deceit so universal amongst them who call themselves Christians of keeping some of the Commandments of God and neglecting others Some Thoughts of the Life to Come With a brief account of the state of Religion as it 〈◊〉 now in the World The great Benefits of Christ to all that Believe on and Obey him Being a Treatise on Hebrews 2. 15. VVherein it is shewed and made known how People may be freed and delivered from that slavish fear of Death whereby they are subject to Bondage throughout their Life-time And also how they may be saved and preserved from the Evil and Danger of Death when it shall approach nigh and come actually upon them An earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to Turn immediately to the Lord their God