loveth Righteousness his Countenance doth behold the upright And if such as are accounted his People do wickedly and do not walk in the Wayes of Righteousness and delight to do the Will of God and fulfill all Righteousness in all things to do his Will but tuâ—n aside into crooked Paths he will have no pleasure Ps 40. 8. Mat. 3. 15 in t'em but he will bring his Judgements sooner upon them then upon others until they sanctifie his Name by humbling themselves before him and by turning from all their Evils and by walking in the Paths of Holiness But I say had the Rule of our Lord and King been observed towards many on their first fall in breaking the Covenant they had solemnly taken how many Evils might it have prevented But again had there been at first a faithful reproving of a Spirit of bitterness and heaâ—t-risâ—ng against any that were Saints for their differing in judgement in some particular things and a following the Rule unto a casting such out of Churches as nourished heart-risings against any that were Saints because they were not of the same mind with us this Evil might have been banished from among Saints And if care had been taken to have admonished and reproved such as neglected to Chew the Cud viz. to call the Word to mind after they had heard it this profitable exercise would have been more constantly and more conscionably practised among Saints And if the Members of Churches had taken inspection into such as spend time unprofitably together when it might be spent to more edification it migâ—t have been a more constant practâ—ce among Saints to study that when they come together theâ—â— discourses may be such as may minister Grace to the Heareâ—s But all the House of Israel must know asâ—uredly that the Lord their God expects a thorow Reformation henceforward in this and all other things which concern the glorifying and sanctifying his great Name All wicked doers must be cut off from the City of the Lord. No particular person that is a wicked doer in any of these respects continuing and living in these Evils or any other Sin against knowledge may be received into the House of the Lord. Or if any that were reformed and then received into the House of the Lord do back-slide and relaps into Evil again they must be cut off from that holy place every vessel therein must be holiness to the Lord. The third position that is to be laid down from the Premises is this That Position III if as in the first Position there be not a speedy Humiliation And if as in the second there be not a speedy discharge of those several Duties by them who are best fitted for them and by all others as Assistants of them therein according to their several capacities the Lord our God and our Holy Righteous Father may be speedily provoked to remove the Candlesticks from the Churches in London and in all England not to say any thing of Churches elsewhere For the Church of Ephesus we find to be greatly commended for many things in these words I know thy Works and thy Labour and thy Patience and how thou canst not bear them which are evil And thou hast tryed Rev. 2. â— 3. them that say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyaâ—s and hast born and hast patience and for my Names-sake hast laboured and hast not fainted In which words we have many excellent Characters given of this Church As First They were Labourers and laboured in good Works They were not idle Drones in the Church of Christ but they laboured in the Lords Work and Service and though they might suffer Persecutions and mockings for their so doing yet they had patience to indure it all for the Lords-sake And Secondly They had such a Spirit of Zeal for the Lord and for the Holiness that became his House as they could not bear them which were Evil but would search it out and diâ—cover it and prosecute Evil doers according to the Rules of Christ And Thirdly They â—â—yed them which said they were Apostles and were not and found them Lyars which is their great commendation that they would not suffer any persons to impose upon them with the authority of Apostles which were not appointed by God thereunto but were found Lyars And Fourthly It is said They had born the Yoak of Christ and continued patient and as it is said They laboured so it is said They had not fainted which is their great commendation And though they had all these blessed quallifications yet the Lord thus expresses himself Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast â—â—st thy first Love remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first Works or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent And if the Lord said thus to this Church of Ephesus that had so many worthy things in them because they had lost their first Love that is lost the heat and fervency of Love which they first had to him and to his wayes How much more may he say thus to many Churches now who come much short of the good that was in them and it may be have much more lost their first Love who have forsaken their first Husband and entertained other Lovers into their Bosoms whose coldness of Love is notoriously manifest to Men and Angels and whose extravagancies are many and great How can they expect any thing less but that that Sentence should be pronounced against them I will come unto such and such a Church thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent O that therefore all the Churches in England may remember from whence they are fallen and may repent The Conclusion of the whole Discourse NOw for a Conclusion of this Discourse That all the House of Israel may be incouraged to repent and return to the Lord even every particular Person as well those that are not Members of Particular Churches as those that are I have this further Message to declare unto them all that fear the Lord viz. That there is hope in Israel concerning this thing which is grounded upon the word of truth in these following Scriptures Isa 5. 17. For the iniquity Ezrâ— 16. 2. of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him I hid me and was wroth and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart I have seen his wayes and I will heal him I will lead him also and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners I create the fruit of the lips peace peace to him that is far off and to him that is near saith the Lord and I will heale him but the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt there is no peace saith my God to the wicked In which portion of the precious Scriptures of Truth the Spirit of the
out one of another and by taking up Evil * Witness Mr. Edward 's Gangranâ— Reports one of another and manifesting no Brotherly Love one to another but caâ—rying it one to another as if they were not Children of one Father I say in that the Lordâ— People have done thus they have provoked the Lord to scourge them all and to spare none of them And they must know that as far as they remain thus disposed he is greatly offended with them Not that the Lords People ought not at all to judge one another for there are many things that we may judge and censure one another for as when persons are overtaken in faults or evils that are against plain Rules such Rules as are acknowledged by all that acknowledge and believe in the true God and Jesus Chrâ—st whom he hath sent as to be a Lyar to steal to cheat to deceive to swear falsly to commit adultery to be malicious or envious or proud or covetous or impatient or froward or to be scornful are evils acknowledged by all that truly believe in the true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to be against plain Rules received and acknowledged by them all and when we see a Brother overtaken in any of these or the like â—â—â—lts we are to judge and condemn them as the Works of Darkness and the Fruits of the Flesh and to endeavour to restore them that are guilty of them and to have no fellowship with them in such unfruitful Works of Darkness And accordingly the Independants the Baptised the Quakers and the Presbyterians do all bear witness and that justly against these and such-like Eâ—ils whether they are in any of their own Understandings or in any others And this kind of judging one another the Lord both commands and commends He commands it in these Scriptures Lev. 19. 17. Psal 94. 16. Mat. 18. 15 16 17. Ephes 5. 11. And the Lord commends it in the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2. 2. I know thy woâ—ks c and how thou canst not bear them which are evil That spirit of zeal that was in them against evil in any in that they would not bear noâ— suffer sin in any was very acceptable to him And therefore in such cases we may and ought to judge of the Ways and Spirits of men and to condemn the carnal minde and sinful disposition of spirit and the sinful ways of men for if a man be disobedient to that which he knoweth to be the Will of his Lord we ought to judge and condemn him therein But that which we are forbidden to judge one another for is the things in which we cannot be of one mind but do differ in our Understandings For though we may be perswaded that the Way wherein we walk is the very Way which the Word of God directs us to walk in yet we ought not to say that therein we are infallible And though we are all to walk in those things wherein we differ every one as we are perswaded in our own minds and should erre therein yet we may not be judged to be none of the Lords Servants or People For they onely may be said to be none of his that wilfully rebell against his known Will and continue in so doing without Repentance But there being this testimony in the Conscience of a man that with his whole Soul he desires and endeavours to do the will of God from the heart and that he doth not knowingly erre in one tittle from the Law of our Lord Jesus Christ but it grieves and troubles him for to censure or judge such a one to â—e none of the Lords is that which the Lord forbids But it may be said That some Quakers do not acknowledge the true God nor Jesus Christ our Lord whom he hath sent To that the answer is easie If they be such to our own knowledge as do deny the true God and Jesus Christ our Lord whom he hath sent as do not own him nor his Law nor profess an unfeigned subjeâ—ion to him in all things so far as they know his Will Then they are not to be owned as the Lords Servants but to be accounted as Heathens and Inâ—idels Buâ— if they do profess Faith in God and in Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and if the true Fear of the Lord be in them and they do manifest a subjection unto the Laws and Rules of the Lord Christ in all things so far as they know his Wâ—ll although they are very differing from us â—n many other things not so generally received by all the Lords People yet he thaâ— censures or judges them as Enemies of the Lord or condemns them as none of his may offend the Lord Christ Now as far as the Lords People have been censoriouâ— one of another and condemned one another as none of hiâ— so far they have greatly grieved hâ— holy Spirit in walking contraâ—y unto the blessed Rules of his Word in which he sweetly instructs his People thus Hereby shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye love one another And Joh. 13. 35 1 Cor. 13. 5 Rom. 12. 10. Heb. 13. 1. Rom. 14. 2 3 4 5 9 10 12 13 23. Love thinketh no Evil. And Be kindly affectioned one towards another with Brotherly Love in honour preferring one another And Let Brotherly Love continue And in another place thus For one believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eatetâ— dâ—spise him that eateth not and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him Who art thou that judgest another mans Servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall he holden up for God is able to make him stand One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind To this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and living But why dost thou judge thy Brother Or why dost thou set at nought thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgement-seat of Christ So that every â—ne of us shall give an account of himself to God Let us noâ— therefore judge one another any more And Whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin And Judge not that ye be not judged And Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers Mat. 7. 1 3 4. Eye and considerest not the Beam that is in thine own Eye But very many of the Lords People have greatly sinned against him in not observing these blessed Instructions but they have cast them all behind their back as if they were of no concernment to them to observe But they have rebelled against the Lord and rejected the Word and Wisdom of the Lord herein And though he say Judge not that ye be not judged And Let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth for God hath received him And
Lord takes special notice of that which is the great the grand Sin of the Professors of the â—ear of the Lord in this Age which of all their Evils is the most abominable though they are all hateful to the Lord. And what is said in this Scripture is for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come And the Lord here speaks of a People that were for this Sin of Coâ—etousness smitten by him as his people now have been and yet they went on frowaâ—dly in the way of their heart they went on perveâ—sly in their covetousness notwithstanding his rebukes being an unworthy people as his people now have been of whom it may be said as he complains of them of old Isa 9. 13. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seek the Lord of hosts A people that have both abused his favours and are regardless of his being wroth and his sâ—itings and corrections of them yet he notwithstanding their perversness and unworthyness is pleased to manifest such riches of grace as to say that he had seen the evill of their wayes and would heal them and restoâ—e comforts c. So that the hardest and most froward and most rebellious heart may be softned and turned and healed and then comforted for here is sufficient ground of Hope for Israel in this Case But there is no ground for any Hope that while a Souls Diseases and defilements remain upon it whether it be Covetousness or any other Evil that they shall have any comfort or peace in that state for there is no Peace saith my God to the Wicked not to any Soul â—iving in any Wickedness But they shall be like the troubled Sea which cannot rest whose Waters cast up mire and dirt But to a Soul that is healed of its backsliding God will Create the fruit of the Lips Peace to it and will restore comfort to it and to its Mourners And God can and will heal them that have been and are guilty of the Iniquity of Covetousness and have notwithstanding they have been smitten by him for it yet gone on forwardly in the way of their Hearts But here is no word of Peace for any but the healed Soul Some it may be that are covetous will be covetous still and some that are filthy will be filthy still but the most covetous may be so healed as they may become such as are most hating Covetousness and God will heal such as have gone on frowardly in the way of their hearts and he will then speake Peace unto them Another scripture to this purpose also is Jer. 31. 18 19 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a Bullock unaccustomed to the yoak Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed ye even confounded because I did bear the reproch of my youth Iâ— Ephraim my dear son is he a pleasant Child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therfore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord. In which Scâ—ipture we find that Ephâ—aim had bin chastised as the Lords people have now been for sin but Ephraim was froward and untoward under it and behaved himself like a Bullock not accustomed to the Yoak and could not submit to the Lords chastisements And yet notwithstanding Ephraim is brought at last to bemoan himself that ever he should be so froward and so unmoâ—tiâ—ied and unsubmissive to the Lords Righteous Chastisements And at last Ephraim is brought to pray Turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God As if he should say thus Thou knowest how unsufficient I am to turn my self O turn thou me for thou art all-sufficient for thou art the Lord my God It is a work that thou canst easily Isa 26. 12 do in me For thou who art the Lord our God workest all our Works in us and for us And then Ephraim is become very teachable and very gentle and very ready to beaâ— the Lords Yoak and Ephraim is turned and repenteth and is instructed and smites upon his thigh and is ashamed yea even confounded because he did bear the reproach of his Youth And thus when Ephraim is brought into this humble and gracious posture then the Lord speaks Peace unto him and manifests the yearning of his Bowels towards him and promises that he will have mercy on him Ephâ—aim being healed being turned the Lord soon creates the Fruit of the Lips Peace to him The like Scripture we have also Hos 14. 1 2 3 4 5. O Israel return unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity Take with you words and turn to the Lord and say unto him Take away all iniquity and receive us graciâ—usly so will we render thee the Calves of our Lips Ashur shall not save us we will ride no more upon Horses neither will we say any more to the work of our hands Yea are our Gods for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy I will heal their back-slidings I will love them freely for mine anger is turned away from him I will be as the dew unto Israel he shall grow as the Lillies and cast forth his Roots as Lebanon In which Scripture we have a back-sliding People encouraged to return to the Lord and a promise that the Lord will heal theiâ— back-slidings Though they have lost their first Love and back-sliden from the Lord and have forsaken him in a great measure and his blessed Rules of Love and Humility and Meâ—kness and Righteousness c. Yet he will heal their back-slidings and love them freely And then when they are healed and do take unto them words c. And not until then doth the Lord speak Peace unto them and declare his anger to be turned away and promise to be as the dew unto Israel And he shall cast forth his Roots as Lebanon There are several other Scriptures that confirm this great and blessed Truth but I shall mention but one more with which I shall conclude this Work and service for the Lord and for his People humbly praying that the great and precious blessings therein mentioned as also in the forementioned Scriptures may speedily be the portion of all the Lords People It is Jeremiah 33. 4 5 6 7 8 9. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the houses of this City and concerning the houses of the Kings of Judah which are thrown down by the Mounts and by the Sword They come to fight with the Caldeans but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I have slain in my anger and in my fury and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this City Behold I will bring it Health and Cure
the whole Earth when true Holiness and Spiritual beauty shall appear in it when it shall be arrayed in the Robes of Righteousness and cloathed with Humility that shining beautiful Rayment and be adorned with the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit and be beautified with the exceeding precious Jewels of Faith and Love when their Faith in God shall be such as they shall not fear what all the united Forces of men or of Devils can do against them and their love such to God to his People and to mankind in general as it shall be the delight of their Souls to do Service to God and to do good in all respects to mankind in general as far as lies in them And when this spiritual Beauty appears on Sion then it shall be the praise of the whole Earth then men shall praise it and glorifie the God of Israel whose Children they are And without this though Sion should have full deliverance from all outward Enemies and though it should have all the outward prosperity that heart could wish instead of being a praise in the Earth and an honour to the Lord it might become a stink in his Nostrils and a stain a blot and a dishonour to his most Glorious and most Blessed Name But all those that wait for Redemption from sin in Jerusalem and that pray and long for the true glory of Sion that it may truly be a praise in the Earth they will rejoyce more in any work that hath any tendency to the discovery of the stumbling-blocks hereunto and to the taking them out of the way then if any one should give unto them thousands of Gold and Silver it will make their hearts leap for joy But I must tell the courtious Reader by the way That my prayer hath long been That God would call forth some better instrument to this Service that he hath appointed me to and give a greater measure of annointing to some excellent One of his that is in this Earth that might do it to greater advantage and so it had been done by any other it may be I had been altogether silent But none yet appearing behold a Babe must do it it may be to provoke others who yet have fuller measures of the Holy Oyl to pour out to this purpose for if this incission be not deep enough and if this Potion do not thorowly stir all the Humours which yet it aims at this being but an Essay it may be a second third or fourth attempt of some one or more that may be greatly replenished with a large Portion of the Holy Spirit that may convince of sin and be a word of Power through the concurrence of the Spirit to draw forth bitter mournings in the Lords People over all their Iniquities may effectually prevail to cast all the stumbling blocks out of the way of his Isa 57 14 Mat. 13. 41. People and to remove every thing that offends But if any of the Lords People shall after all that is or may be done in order hereunto hug their lusts as their beloved Delilahs in their Bosoms and roll them as sweet Morsels under their Tongues the Souls of many will mourn in secret for their pride But that be far from any But as I said before so I doubt not but am very sure of this there are many thousands in these three Nations that are true hearted Nathaniels that will not be offended but well-pleased with the convincing charging and reproving part of this Discourse even so well satisfied as they will say as Peter said to his dear Lord in another case Lord not my feet onely but my hands and my head also So will they say to the God of Israel Lord let not this Work or any other that may follow it onely tend to discover the Evils of the Paths of our feet and to turn us from them but also convince us of and turn us from all the Errors and Evils of our heads and hearts also and of our whole man we would be all over fair and beautiful and have no spot in us And they will say they are not herein too harshly dealt with but rather say the harshest word is the most acceptable word to them The whole scope of this Discourse is to do that work that must be done before the approaching glory can be expected viz. to prepare the Way of the Lord in the Wilderness and to make streight in the Desart a high way for our God And when that is done the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together as is plain Isa 40. 3 4 5. The Lords Sion hath a long time been and is at present in a Wilderness Desart state A Wilderness a Desart is a rough unhewen unpollished thing no beauty no comliness is in it There are no pleasant Walks no plain and streight Paths drawn by a line in a Wilderness but rough crooked places Hills and Vallies altogether unpleasant little fruit grows there but poor dry heathy shrubs that are of little use And thus it is and hath a long time been with Sion with the Lords own People they have been very barren and unfruitful and like the dry and parched ground they have dead hearts unprofitable and unfruitful lives and conversations in comparison of what they should be little verdure little greenness appears in them but they are like the heathy shrubs of the Desart places They have not plain streight Paths among them but have crooked Spirits and walk in crooked Paths But though this is Sions sad case at this day yet there are glorious Promises made to it as Isa 51. 3. The Lord shall comfort Sion he will comfort all her waste places though she is unfruitful and waste yet she shall not be forgotten but the Lord will comfort her and how by making her Wilderness like Eden And he will make her Wilderness like Eden though she is an unfruitful Wilderness yet she shall be as fruitful as ever Eden was even as the Garden of the Lord and when she is so fruitful she shall be comforted indeed then Joy and gladness shall be found therein thanksgiving and the voice of Melody This is a very great and precious promise the like is Isa 35. 1 2. The Wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them viz. the judgements of God upon Babylon and the Desart shall rejoyce Sion though a Desart shall rejoyce and blossom as the Rose it shall blossom abundantly not a few thin blossoms but abundantly and rejoyce with joy and singing The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon no place more excelling in glory for fruitfulness then it shall be they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God So that it is plain that though Sion be a Wilderness yet it shall become a most lovely pleasant glorious and beautiful place But it is as plain that in order hereunto there
is this That he is very close fisted and very unfree and unwilling to communicate any thing worth mentioning to the supply of others wants or to any other good Uses but these Persons generally do with eager and hungering and thirsting desires hoord up the Wealth of this World and lay up Bag after Bag Wealth to Wealth or do adde Land to Land House to House Field to Field Isa 5. 8. and in this they take great pleasure But are very hard to be drawn to part with any thing considerable to any good Use But it may be these Wealth-mongers will say I cannot accuse my self hereof for I have parted with sometimes five Shillings at a time sometimes ten Shillings sometimes forty Shillings sometimes ten Pounds at a time for good uses when I have seen need and occasion And it may be some good honest poor People will witness for them they have given good Gifts at such a time and such a time when they have been moved thereunto and therefore who will dare to say that they are covetous To which the answer is That notwithstanding this it may appear and will appear that many of you that have thus done are meer covetous Earthworms meer filthy Idolaters and Adulterers and this poor mask cannot hide you especially you that have had and you that yet have very considerable Estates in this World as many of you have had and many of you yet have whom I will not name I say you will be found lamentable covetous Persons such as whose Covetousness the Lord abhors and his People shall and it may be do Psal 10. 3 abhor It may be you have given this and that and t' other Gift to relieve the Poor and Needy But do but consider what you have done I mean in what degree and proportion to your Estates you have done it and then consider whether a poor Brother that hath cast in three pence or four pence to the weekly Contributions hath not cast in six times it may be ten times as much as you Do ye not know what our blessed Lord spake of the poor Widows two Mites You of your abundance have it may be contributed sometimes that which hath seemed to be something in the Eyes of a mean Person and they have blessed the Lord for it but what was it in the Eyes of the Lord Consider that ye that know what your own Estates have been what your yearly incomes by your Rents Lands Tradings Offices and Employments have been what your Gains have been by your great Bargains and great Purchases which you have made and how much hath been cast upon you by Estates coming to you by Marriages or by deceased Friends or good years Crops of Corn or Sugars or by any other Merchandizes which ye have traded in In these Gospel-Days since the Grace of the Gospel hath been so abundantly revealed the Lord now expects that the glorious Riches of Grace that is now made known unto his Saints should be a far greater inducement unto them to abound in all good Works then all the several Precepts and Injunctions in the Law Wherein he expresly ty'd them by several distinct Precepts to very large Contributions and Communications of their Estates amounting in all it may be to more then a sixth part of their yearly incomes For now under the Gospel the Lord hath left his People to their freedom as to measure giving them no prescriptions of measures herein as if he would now try his People what they will do freely seeing in these blessed days he hath communicated so freely to them And will it not now be their shame to come short of what in the Law he expresly required It is said Heb. 13. 16. To do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased He is well pleased when his People abound in offering such Sacrifices but he loves a chearful Giver and therefore now doth not constrain but expects it should be done of a ready mind Therefore it would well become a man who hath Three hundred Pounds per annum coming in by Rents or Trading chearfully and freely to part with Sixty Pound per annum at the least for the honour of his gracious Lord who hath freely and graciously given him so large incomes much exceeding what many very many of his fellow-Servants have The Lord having given him also the clear evidence of an Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for him over and above these outward things If all these Riches of Grace extended to a poor miserable Worm will not induce him with a willing heart to return back so much of his own to his Lord again when he knoweth that with such Sacrifices he is well pleased that man is a very Churl And as it would become a man of Three hundred per annum to return to the service of his Lord more then a sixth part thereof so much more is it the concernment of him that hath Six hundred per annum coming in to part freely with more then a fourth part thereof and him that hath a Thousand Pounds per annum to communicate freely for the Lords sake more then a third part thereof For the greater a mans yearly incomes are in the better capacity is he to exceed them of lesser Estates And for to observe their Rule of Proportion and to do no more would be very unbecoming him Now I say You that have plentiful Estates that say you have been communicative consider what you have done and know you many of you that those your Contributions that you have made from time to time are contemptible because of the shortness and the niggardliness of them and know that the unworthiness of your Spirits herein will be ere long clearly discovered and that you are filthy covetous vile Persons and have proved your selves to be Churles and not liberal kind and bountiful and though some it may be have accounted you bountiful and merciful when out of your abundance you have given it may be ten or twenty Shillings or five Pounds to the relief of a poor Person or a poor Family yet the time is coming when such vile persons as you shall no more be called liberal nor such Churles as Isa 32. 5. you be said to be bountiful But many a poor House-keeper that out of their Labours have given but Six-pence will appear to be more bountiful by many degrees then some of you that have given ten pounds five pounds or three pounds at a time out of your great Estates So that this is the third Character of him that is a Covetous person who is an Idolater c. He is a Person that is close fisted and very hardly is drawn to communicate of the Wealth of this World but loves to hoard it up and takes great pleasure therein though it may be he will be much in holy Duties if his Estate consist in Lands or Bags
and he be not one that 's in a way of Trading then you shall it may be have much of his Bodily Presence at Meetings and he will be ready to do any Service in his Person that may cost him nothing Any thing so his or her purse may be spared But you may as soon wring Blood from their hearts as any thing that is noble and handsome and like a liberal Person proportionable to their Estates But that this Lover of Money this nigardly Person is the Covetous Idolater is clear in the Scripture also as in Jam. 5. 3. Jer. 22. 13. to 17. Isa 32. 5 6 7 8. Psal 112. 4 5 9. Isa 58. 6 7. Isa 5. 8. 1 Cor. 9. 5. Ezek. 33 31. And under one or all of these three Characters especially the last you may find out the Covetous Persons that are Idolaters and that do so filthily play the Harlot and commit Adultery as hath been declared But now though this may be said of the House of Jacob and of them that may be said to be the Lords People yet among these I hope nay I question not that there are a few that are free it may be perfectly free from this evil that never set up this World in their Hearts but are very loose from it and are no way engaged in their affections to it so as to make it their Joy or their Delight but have intirely set their affections on things above and that can and do freely and liberally part with it communicating of what they have whether little or much it may be to more then a third part of what their yearly incomes are and delight in their very Souls to be doing good and communicating bountifully But these are but few But O how great is the number of the guilty of this Sin among them that are called the Lords People of all sorts and Professions O how many of them that are accounted the Ministers of God may charge themselves and be charged with two great degrees of it Both among the Presbyterians for distinction so called and the Independants and the Baptised Congregations and they of the Quaker's Societies They that are the Elderâ— among the three former and that are sometimes Speakers among the latter some of them all have great blots and great stains of this kind and few but are more or less guilty of it So that the Lords complaint against Israel of old may be his complaint at this day Jer. 6. 14. 8. 10. For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to Covetousness and from the Prophet even to the Priest every one dealeth falsly A covetous Professor deals falsly with God And how have the Ministers and Preachers of the Word coveted this World And how have they thirsted after places of Profit They that should have been blessed Examples of the greatest detestation of this Evil even they many of them have been very evil Examples to their Hearers both in coveting to scrape up much of this World together and in close keeping it when they had it How many of the Lords Ministers have so hoorded up the Wealth of this World as to be able to give great Portions to their Daughters great Estates to their Children when little hath at any time appeared of their bounty to the Poor and Needy I do not blame the good People that have been free and liberal in communicating of their Temporals to them that communicated to them in Spirituals for that is Fruit that will abound to their account however their Ministers have improved it But rather have great Reason to blame many that have not been so free as they ought in communicating to those Servants of the Lord that they have pretended to love and affect much whose covetous Hearts have not suffered them to communicate to them according to their Estates as they ought but they that have been covetous and close fisted to the Poor have been too much so to their Ministers or Elders also and their sparing giving will one day be remembred against them I say I do not blame them that have been free to their Ministers but I blame the Ministers many of them that have so much loved this Worlds Wealth and set their Hearts upon it and have not been so free and generous to the Poor and Needy as became them I speak of those that have had good and comfortable Estates cast in upon them I speak not of others who some of them have been in a poor and needy condition themselves And I blame those Covetous Pastors that for more gain have left one People to go to another and that have preached for hire and prophesied for reward rather then for love to the work and that must indent for so much by the year or else they could not be satisfied and could not be content to sit down with a People that loved them and to trust the Lord to incline their hearts to provide comfortably for them but they must have Engagements for so much by the year or else the Work must be left which hath rendred the Work of the Lord contemptible Consider this ye Ministers and Prophets whose ways have much displeased the Lord and provoked the Eyes of his Glory Ought not his Service to have been preferred before Wealth and outward Profits Was there not enough in him Would he not have been your Shield and your exceeding great Reward Be ashamed and mourn and weep for this ye unworthy Shepherds lest you and your Off-spring for whom ye desired Wealth be made a scorn and a reproach How many Children of covetous Ministers have been such as a blast and not a Blessing from the Lord hath attended them And as for the Ministers of Independant and of the Baptised Congregations who have not so indented for a maintenance it 's true yet some of them yea many of them have been unworthy covetous Persons also loving and hugging the things of this present World not having freely given as they have freely received and as for some of them that have not received a maintenance from their People having Trades or Lands or Estates of their own to live on but have preached freely yet they have been some of them as it is well known very unworthy covetous Persons in eager pursuing their Trades and Offices and Imployments for gain with the neglect of many a Duty which it would have become them to have done And though some of them have had very great Estates comparatively yet were they never satisfied but were still pursuing eagerly the Profits of the World and minding that as if it were their chief Joy And though their Gifts have been excelling many of their weak Brethren yet they have been greatly neglected and have been improved onely when their Worldly business would give them leave And for their close-fistedness it hath been such as hath been gross and absurd in the Eyes of them that have taken inspection into
their actions though it may be poor Souls they have not had the courage or the confidence to reprove it or if they had would it have been to any purpose They have appeared and do appear so fixed in their covetous ways and so settled upon their Lees and hardened in their ways that they could not bear Reproof and they have had devices to hide and cover their Covetousness but the Lord seeth and knoweth all their wickedness in their Covetousness which his Soul abhors And as for those called Quakers they also have among them many very covetous Persons which are eagerly pursuing the World in their several Callings and do hoord up Wealth plentifully but part with any thing very sparingly and yet some of these are men that are sometimes Speakers among them It is true some of them that are said to be of the Ministry among them have but little of the World and it may be do little mind the things of this World but there are but few such But others of them love Wealth and love Greatness and mind Earthly things in a shameful manner also and the time is coming when their Covetousness will be discovered and their hugging and close keeping the things of this world as if they were their greatest happiness will be made manifest and all their hidings and coverings of it with specious pretences will not serve their turns Some of them being Shop-keepers and some Merchants and others of other Trades that yet do preach among them sometimes but it may be will not be said to be of their Ministry because they will be more free to follow the World which they eagerly scrape up together with the expence of most of their time and strength and care as if their Life consisted in the abundance of the things they possess and if they do communicate I mean some of them yea most of them but not all they do nothing noble nor handsome nor any thing proportionable to their Estates nor so as to find acceptance with the Lord who loves to have his People liberal and noble and not nigardly nor base This that I speak to Ministers to Prophets to Elders to Teachers to Men of Gifts and Abilities for preaching the Word of God of the several understandings Presbyterians Independants Baptised and Quakers I do well know to be true I wish it were not so Though I also believe that some that I know well and it may be more that I know not though of several understandings are men that are very unblameable herein and they are very beautiful ones in Sion and the Glory of Christ but the number of these is very small compared with the others that are more or less guilty of this horrible Evil. And as the Ministers and gifted men of the several understandings so the people the generality of the people that are hearers of all these and Members of Churches and Societies among them are guilty veâ—y guilty of the same evil some very grosly so and some in lesser degrees but very generally more or less are they guilty Which appears in their several capacities thus Some that are eminent persons and worthy persons for gifts and parts and for Zeal and forwardness in many good things who having no trades but yearly incomes some of 500 l. per annum some of a 1000. l. per annum some more some less of which quality I know several that have no Trades but have such yearly incomes and so are not under temptations of neglecting Meetings and Lectures and private and publick performances who yet do appear to be as covetous as those that do as appears by their excessive backwardness to good works and their hoording up their Wealth and adding Wealth to Wealth as if all their happiness consisted in being wealthy and all blessings for themselves and Children if they have Children consisted therein Miserable wretched covetous persons are they and the Lord knows them to be so and they have very much provoked him although some of them have been very forward at Meetings and Lectures and very ready to every thing that was commendable except the parting with their Wealth Any service they would offer to the Lord that ye could desire that might cost them little or nothing Who more ready then they to many services But you must spare their Minion their beloved Darling the Wealth of this World but if they were tryed here then they were tryed indeed and though for shame they could not but do something yet have they done it sparingly enough and shall reap sparingly enough notwithstanding their other services What though they have been ready to preach and been forward at Meetings And what though they could speak with the Tongues of Men and Angels And what though they have hazarded their Liberties to come to Meetings And what though they have hezarded their very Lives Yet having another Beloved in their hearts having no heart to part with the Wealth of this World to supply the Members of Christ in Sickness and in Prison and in Nakedness and in Hunger the Love of God hath not appeared in them but the Love of the World hath had the chief place in their hearts How dwelleth the Love of God in that man or woman that shuts up the Bowels of their compassion from Christ in his Members Or if they have given to such they have done it sparingly grudgingly and nigardly But God loveth a chearful Giver But these covetous Earth worms must know that this hath been their great Sin and untill they reform herein they must expect no great Blessing from the Lord but rather a blasting Shew my People their transgression their Sin in not drawing out their Soul Isa 58. 2 to the Hungry and bringing the Foor that are cast out to their Houses and that they hide themselves from their own flesh and satisfie not the afflicted Soul Whereas if they did these things in that full and ample manner as became them and as were suitable and proportionable to their Estates then their Light might break forth as the Morning and their Health might spring forth speedily and their Righteousness should go before them the Glory of the Lord should be their Rereward they should call and the Lord should answer c. But this sin cleaves yet as close to them as the Skin to their Backs and when will they reform And some of them the Husband and the Wife both agree in a covetous humour and all their actions discover it And though Aldermen and Aldermens fellows for Estates yet they are as near and penurious in their way as their Taylor or Shoo-maker and as little Generosity in some cases appears in them for they that are covetous appear so every manner of way onely in some things for a name they will appear otherwise it may be their Houses and their Habits will be stately but they will be as sparing as any man in many other things even in poor ordinary things which
that all Bowels of Compassion are shut up when there is a with-holding of communicating of this Worlds Good to a needy Person by those that have it and what will such talk of Love He that shutteth up the Bowels of his Compassion how dwelleth the love of God in him What evidence of it doth he give He that loveth God loveth the Children of God whether sick or in Prison or in Hunger or Nakedness But what demonstrations of it do hard-hearted Persons give that have this Worlds good and shut up the Bowels of their compassion I was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink I was a stranger and ye took me not in naked and ye cloathed me not sick and in Prison Mat. 25. 42 43. and ye visited me not How dare ye say ye love me that were so hard-hearted Of this great sin very many Professors of Religion of all the several Understandings fore mentioned are very deeply guilty though they are accounted the Lords People and are Members of several Churches and Societies of them that fear the Lord. And their fig-leaf excuses will not cover this sore nor hide it from the sight of the Lord whatever it do from Men. And such hard-hearted persons as have not a heart to communicate but lay it up either for Children or for some Niece or other may live to see them all buried before them and themselves soon after may have their Souls taken from them and then what comfort will they have in the thoughts of such hardness of Heart and such unanswerableness unto the Law of God as hath been in them Now the Law as well as the Gospel discovers how displeasing this Sin is in the sight of God and how pleasing the contrary Vertue is unto him And if such hard-hearted Persons have any desire to reform and any love to the Truth and Law of God if they have any delight in it let them read often and read considerarely those several Passages in â—is blessed Word Isa 58. 5. to 11. Jer. 12. 15 16 17. Isa 1. 16 17 18. Jam. 1. 27. Jam. 2. 8. Mark 6. 8. Exod. 23. 11. Levit. 19. 9 10. Deut. 24. 19 20 21 22 23. Levit. 23. 22. In these three last mentioned places you may see how the heart of the Lord our God is bent to require Tenderness and compassion in us which is so plentiful and abundant in himself in that though we have many other precious Precepts of this nature besides yet this one is repeated three times in the same words And that we may see how well he takes works of this nature he tells us Deut. 24. 13. Do this saith he and it shall be Righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God But there is but few that have desired to be abounding in this Righteousness Compare with this place Psal 112. and 2 Cor. 9. 9 10. and consider how many such righteous Men and Women there be in England Some there are I do not doubt but they are rare to be found Read also Isa 32. 8. Prov. 19. 17. Job 31. 19 20. Ezek. 18. 7. Dan. 4. 27. Hos 6. 6. Psal 18. 25. Mat. 5. 7. Luk. 16. 9. Rom. 12. 8. 13. and 2 Cor. 9. from 5. to 15. Heb. 13 1 2 3 16. where we have a plentiful Testimony both from the Law and the Gospel of the blessedness of the Generous the Liberal the Bountiful the Merciful Man or Woman And to shew what the miserable the wietched and the unhappy case of others are I need mention no other place then that one Mat. 25. 41 42 43 46. And these hard-hearted persons shall go away into everlasting Punishment but the Righteous who have dispersed abroad and given to the Needy into Life eternal III. Another great Sin that those that are called the People of the Lord III. OMISSION OF HOLY DVTIES the Israel of God are guilty of is the Sin of OMISSION OF HOLY DUTIES of which Covetousness hath also been a great Root as well as of hardness of Heart For this hath been an evil Fruit of that bitter Root in many where Covetousness hath been though not in all that have been covetous For some have been very covetous and yet very frequent in Duties especially some that have great Estates coming in without a Trade by Lands and Interest-Money and Bank-Money For upon such there was no such temptation as upon others of neglecting Duties though they have been as covetous as I said before as others it being proved as I said before by their Close fistedness But this Sin of Omission of Holy Duties I cannot say hath alwayes sprung from Covetousness neither though for the most part it hath Duties â—hat have been omit â—ed are â— Solemn and constant Prayer in Families Now that this hath been a great Sin of many of the Lords People is too well known to themselves and others And the Duties that have been sadly neglected by many of them are these 1. Solemn and constant Prayer in their Families which ought to have been carefully and with great seriousness and fervency of Spirit performed twice a day at the least together with spiritual Praises to God for dayly and innumerable Mercies with some exposition dayly or at least reading of some part of the Scriptures for the Edification and Instruction of the Family in general which being done with great Fear and Reverence in a lively spritual manner is comely to be seen in the Tabernacles of the Righteous Psal 118. 15. Dan. 6 10. Josh 24. 14. Heb. 12. 28. Gen. 13. 4. Abraham Joshua Daniel and David did so Psal 92. 2. 2. Taking frequent opportunities particularly to instruct Children and Servants â— Partiâ—ular inâ—truction â—f Chilâ—ren and â—thers â— Closet-Performances one by one examining the state and condition of each Soul and applying particular Instructions or Reproofs or Consolations to them as the case might requite with a zealous and fervent and longing desire of doing good to every Soul appertaining to the Family or Acquaintance or Kindred or Neighbors as far as any opportunity might be had 3. Being constant at dayly Closet as well as Family Performances in Prayer and Praises in conversing with the Lord alone it being not possible to have so much freedom to pour out a Persons own Soul-Cases and to express iâ—s Soul-Affections to the Lord among others as alone and frequent private searching of and meditating on the Law of God the blessed Word of God day and night 4. The often visiting the Poor the Fatherless and Widows in their affliction â— Visitâ—ng of the â—oor c. and the Sick and Imprisoned in their Trials and Sufferings Wherein puâ—e and true Religion is manifested Jam. 1. 17. 5. Taking special care of the Souls of your Acquaintance whether you were Members of particular Congregations or not that you observed to be â— Watchâ—ng over â—he Souls â—f others under any sinful distempered diseased frame of
Spirit in whom any sin did appear or any carriage or conversation not becoming the Gospel according to the Rules laid down in the blessed Word of Truth both in the Law and Gospel as Lev. 19. 17. Mat. 8. 15 16. Gal. 6. 1. 6. That great Duty of a constant frequenting the Assemblies of the Saints and the practise of the publick Ordinances of Christ which he taught all his Constant and diligent attending the Assemblies of Saints publickly to worship the Lord. 1 Pet. 4. 14 Disciples to observe wherein there is a more publick owning and honouring the Lord in the Eyes of all the World Which well becomes the Saints diligently and solemnly to attend whatever Persecution they suffer for it for happy are they if they suffer for well doing the Spirit of God and of Glory reâ—leth upon them which was the blessed Practice of the Saints of old as Psal 22 22. 107. 32. 149. 1. 122. 1 2. 27. 4. Heb. 10. 25. 1 Cor. 11. 18. 14. 23. 1 Cor. 5. 4. Now I say That there hath been a very great Omission of all these great Duties by the generality of Professors is too well known to themselves and others But I may not spare to tell them of it more particularly and to sâ—ew them tâ—e hainousness of those Sins As first That great Duty of solemn and constant Prayer in Families being neglected is to be charged upon many even of the Baptized Congregations whose looseness therein hath been very lamentable and not onely the people but some of the Elders and Teachers of those people also have greatly offended in this thing and whatsoever their zeal hath been in other things and in things never so excellent yet in this they have been a shame and a dishonour to the high profession of the Gospel which they have made my Soul is grieved to think of it It having proceeded meerly from a careless carnal sluggish frame of Spirit not from Opinion or Judgement that it ought to be so or that it were against a Rule to pray and praise the Lord in their Families or to exhort or instruct their Families though that were very bad in them if they did it from Opinion but it hath not been so for sometimes they have been practising that duty in their Families at their own leisure and when their own turns were served O sinful people that have thus provoked the Lord to perform duties to God either not at all all the day long or else when it s done sleeping by most present bringing the blind the halt to the Lord and as these so more private and Closet performances have been very rare and seldom as those that have lived in their Families and observed their looseness and remisness can witness and their own Consciences will testifie to their faces And as the Professors of the Baptized Churches so those of the Independant and Presbyterian understandings many of them have been as guiâ—ty of the omission or slight or seldom performances of these duties as they But for the people that are termed Quakers by way of distinction from oâ—hers they have been wretchedly guilty of the omission of these Family and Closet Duties it being their general way never to pray in their Families though many of their Families have been made up of all such as have been called Quakets all such as have approved one of another and could have no pretence why they should not joyn together in Prayer and praises why they should not worship the Lord together in their Families as well as in the greater Congregations but onely a careless carnal vain heart that is the occasion of the remisness of all Professors that are remiss in this Duty But they have a pretence that they may not pray but when they have a strong impulse of Spirit thereunto and if that be the case and that People may not pray that they may be quickened by the quickening Spirit nor pray for more of the Spirit when they have but a little very little in them then why do they pray at all in their Meetings or joyn in Prayer with those that do But it may be those that pray not all the week before in their Families will pray when they come to a Meeting And had not the devil a great design in hindring all sorts of Professors from Prayer they would not so easily upon such slight and insufficient grounds be hindred from Prayer as they generally are But that subtile Adversary knoweth that their Hearts shall live that seek the Lord and that there are no Souls so thâ—iving as the truly spiritual praying Souls that are most in Prayer and Supplication day and Ps 22. 26. 69. 32. night which none are whatever they pretend but those that spend much time therein both in their Families where they fear the Lord and in their Closets When thou prayest retire thy self set time apart for that purpose enter into thy Closet and pray to thy Father in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly But some may say I may pray in Mat. 6 6. secret when I neither enter into my Closet nor none in my House observeth me But let me tell such That if they be observed as they may be when they little think of it to spend their day from morning to night in being implunged in some worldly business or other or to be in company with some or other talking of this or that News or this and that Trade or business or eating and drinking and walking and talking and so fill up their whole day and no time set apart nor no retirement or being retired from the world and the affairs thereof they are sorry Prayers that such make Our dear Lord went into Desarts and Mountains to pray set time apart for that great and solemn Work and frequently continued all night in Prayer to God It was not a little and slight setting apart of time And therefore let not any dare to deceive and delude themselves and others with deceitful pretences But I have a little digrest though necessarily from my work in hand to show the Lords People their Transgressions But I must proceed to shew his People among the Quakers that this hath been their great Sin that they have been very grosly and in higher degrees then others guilty of the omission of these holy Duties of Family and Closet-Praying and Praising and Worshipping the Lord which is of so great concernment to the increase of all spiritual Grace and that is the reason that they grow so little but are come to a stint and do not adde to their Faith Vertue and to Vertue Knowlenge c. but in the posture they were seven years ago they are still many of them and are rather declined in the purity of their conversations though they stick to their shells and outsides of needless words and gestures in the which there is no savour to
never go to seek their stragling Souls by going to their Houses to endeavour their Return not once in twelve months but if they be lost lost they may be for you especially if they be some of the Poor of the Flock if mean in the World and they may wander from Mountain to Hill and be devoured of wild Beasts for you have neither cared to seek that which was lost nor to bring again that which was driven away nor to heal the Sick c. And WO BE TO YOU ye Shepherds of Israel saith the Lord Ezek. 34. 2. that do not the work of a Shepherd but take care to feed your selves and cloath your selves and if that be done whether you have it of the Sheep or any other way you are satisfied though you do not those Offices of Shepherds of the Flock as those that should watch for their Souls as those that must give an account of them to God O how sad an account have ye to make for these things Heb. 13. 17 These Sins of your Omissions unto whom so great a Charge is committed have been very great provocations of the Eyes of his Glory of whose blessed Service you have been so negligent and you must be told of it with a SPARE NOT. Again As this hath been the Sin of Prophets and Teachers so it hath been the Sin of others also even of many of all distinctions Presbyterians and Quakers c. for it is the concern of all that fear the Lord to endeavour the Reclaiming and Recovery of any that are fallen or overtaken with a fault and to endeavour the restoring of them with the spirit of Meekness But this hath been a general Sin among very many viz the Omission of this Duty It is true that many Professors are not gifted for such a Work as â—ohers are but every one ought to be found performing it according to their capacity as need â—equires and neglect of the discharge hereof in any of the Lords People hath been their sin which the Lord will have them humbled for But the great Sin among the Sins of Omission of the Lords People is the Sin of Omission of the constant attending of the Assemblies of the Saints in all times wherein that Assembly whereunto a person appertains doth appoint any solemn Assembly for the publick worshipping the Lord together waiting on the Lord to see his goings in the Sanctuary to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire into his Temple For the Lord is pleased to declare Rev. 1. 13 20 that his presence is in the midst of the Churches in the Assemblies of his Saints and there his people may inquire may seek after may find and obtain the Knowledge of the great Mysterieâ— of his Gospel and Kingdom and there the spiritual Eye may behold his Beauty And if some cannot see any Beauty there it is because their Eyes are blinded But every spiritual Eye may and doth behold in some measure the Beauty of the Lord in his Temple in his Churches But the reason why those that are truly spiritual see but a little is because there is a great defection in the very best of the Churches and most of the Elders of the Churches have their blots and some in particular are very â—oul ones as hath been said and may appear before this discourse be ended it being to shew the Lords People their Transgressions and the Churches and the Elders of the Churches their Sins But though there be a very great defection and backsliding in the Churches and the very Elders of the Churches to their shame yet there the Beauty of the Lord is to be seen if any where upon Earth though it be very much beclouded But though there be but a little Light yet some-Light and some spiritual Beauty there is among many Churches and Congregations of Saints and let particular Souls know that then they shall know if they follow on to Hos 6. 3. Prov. 10. 4. Isa 32. 20 Prov. 2. 4 know the Lord And he that improves a little well shall gain much more The diligent hand maketh rich and blessed are they that sow beside all Waters Blessed are they that improve all opportunities in publick and private to search for the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as for Silver and dig for it as for hid Treasures In all places or means in which there is any ground to expect the obtaining of that blessed Treasure But this hath been the Sin of the House of Jacob or those that pretend to be of that House viz. of the Israel of God That they have greatly neglected not onely other Duties in the performance whereof they might have been blessed but also this great Duty of attending the Assemblies of the Saints wherein in an especial manner they ought to â—e diligent For in the Assemblies of the Saints God is most evidently and visbly honoured and gloâ—ified by his People in the Eyes of the World And the more they have been opposed the more ought his Saints to be diligent in giving up themselâ—es by a faithful obedieâ—ce unto his Precepts in the observance of all his Ordinances and appointments blamelesly purely and not according to mens inventions for in vain do they worship him that teach â—or Doctrine the Precepts of men But instead of waiâ—ing on the Lord in the Assemblies of his Saints in former times wherein the Lords People enjoyed Prosperity and as much Liberty as they could desire they many of them followed the World and the Profits thereof and others for tâ—iâ—â—â—ng occasions neglected their Duties when it was not for matter of Gain unto them but meerly from a sluggish dull dead frame of spirit and Indifferency in the Lords Service And when Churches have appointed solemn days of waiting upon the Lord in solemn Assemblies besides the Sabbath or first day of the Week there have been slender appâ—â—â—ances of them of all Distinctions Even of some of the Baptised Churches I say not all of the Baptised Churches but some are very guilty hereof also and it is too well known to them that their solemn Assemblies being appointed have been slightly observed weekly â—n the week Days yea many times when days of Fasting and Prayer and days of Thanksgiving have been appointed upon solemn occasions they have been unworthily neglected by many Church-Members and by some Elders also some affording but half the day to the Lord and some no part at all O unworthy People Was the Lord a barren Wilderness unto you or a Land of Darkness Was there no pleasure to be found in waiting upon him Was he no more delightful to your Soul then a Land of Darkness which is very unpleasant to the Body Was he so to your Souls Was there no more in him then in a barren heathy Wilderness Who can chuse but have his heart rise against the unworthy doings of such a People as have by their Aâ—â—ions seemed to manifest no more regard unto the
opposed and imprisoned and banished and if hang'd it were good enough for them and if they were even cut off that troubled the Presbyterians it were but righteous in their account So little of the Spirit of God appeared in them and so little Love had they to all that differed from them and so ill thoughts did they harbour of them And on the other hand it hath been a frequent thing for the Baptised the Quakers and Independants to judge the Presbyterians to be Antichristian and to be in Babylon in an Antichristian Way as being such as the Lord would never own And yet it is to be hoped that by this time they are convinced on all hands in a good measure that they did eâ—e in so judging and speaking one of another For the Baptised People and the rest do now see that there is a spirit of Integrity and of the true Fear of the Lord among them that are called Presbyterians and that they cannot by the Temptations of this World nor yet by the Threats of it be drawn to comply with things against their Light to keep their Beâ—â—â—ces as they judged they would for many of those that had hard thoughts of the Presbyterians judged that those that were Preachers among the Presbyterians preached onely for Hire and for Reward and that if their far Benefices were taken away their work would be ended But they do now see that it is not so but that they can and do preach though there be no Tythes nor Rates put into their mouths and that they can be content as weâ—l as Independant and Baptised Preachers and Quakers to do their Lords Work and trust him to engage the Hearts of their Hearers to administer to them supplies for their Livelihoods And though it be not so much as formerly yet it may be it doth them more good and is more comfortable to them then their former Incomes were that were by Tythes c. And it may be seen also that those Impositions that came from Rome even from the Babylonian Crew are not submitted to by the Presbyterians but that they desire such a Reformation in all things as is most agreeable to the Word of God and not according to the Decrees Canons and Constitutions of Men. I say these things the Baptised Independants and Quakers can now see in the Presbyterians and can bless the Lord for it Again on the other hand The Presbyterians do now see that it is not a great Error for the Lords People to meet in private Houses thereto worship God and preach and hear the Word as the Primitive Saints did seeing that liberty of Worshiping God accoâ—ding to the Enlightâ—ings of their Understandings and Consciences is not to be had in the Parish Steeplehouses which some do call Churches And by this time they are all convinced that they all believe in and worship one God the Father of whom are all things and one Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things and that they are all made Partakeâ—s of the same Spirit â— Cor. 8. 6. of Truth that dispenseth his Gifts and Graces and Teachings to them all variously dispensing to every one severally as he will and that his Wind bloweth where it listeth John 3. 8. And they can rejoyce in the Grace of God that is dispensed to them all inabling them or any particular person of them to bear witness unto the Truth Some by suffering Imprisonments or Confiscations and deprivements of outward things or Banishments or Death And they can all rejoyce in that Christ is exalted by any who do preach up and witness to this Truth That Jesus Christ is the onely Lawgiver in his Church and the onely â—ph 1. 22. Isa 33. 22 Ezek. 43. 8. Rom. 14 -5 King and Head of his Church and that his Laws and Rules onely are to be obeyed and practised in his Church and that no men ought to set up their posts by his Posts and that every Servant of the Lord ought to worship him so as they are perswaded in theiâ— own mind is most agreeable to his Word and his Rules and not according to the Understandings and Prescriptions of others but according to that direction Rom. 14. 15 23. Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind Perswaded of what Even that the Way in which he worships God is according to his Word and Laws and not according to the Words and Laws of men as knowing that whatsoever is not of Faith is sin And they all can rejoyce in this That that one Spirit in them all preâ—seth all to Holiness and Purity of Heart and Life so that out of doubt theâ—e are many of all these that now can lie down at the Feet one of another to do one another good though in some things they diffeâ— in their Understandings as much now as ever they did And they have now lâ—arned to be more afraid of Judging and Censuring and Condemning one another lest they shoulâ— be judged of Christ for so doing But though we may hope that it is thus now with many of the Lords People yet it is most undeniable that the generality of the Lords People have greatly sinned against him in their sinful Deportments one towards another â— Tim. 6. 4 in â—aking up evil surmises one of another and endeavouring to compel one another to their own Understandings and also manifesting such an unworthy spirit as that if any one party had prevailed to have absoluâ—e Dominion over all the rest it was more then pâ—obable they would have used some severity to conâ—â—â—ain the rest to conâ—orm to their Understandings This was known to be that which the Presbyterians did greatly seek for And it was too manifest by the words and actions of the Baptised Quakers and Independants thaâ— they would have gone far in the same Path †Though not to that height as the Presbyterians desired to do which was a very unworthy disposition in whomsoever it was for if it be a very grievous thiâ—g a veâ—y injurious thing for any to compel the Presbyterians to do that which is against their Conscâ—ences in the Worship of God it is the same in any other But this hath greatly displeased the Lord that any should be compelled and constrained to do any thing in his Service or Woâ—ship which they saw not his Word and Rule for He is thy Lord and worship thou him He is not thy Lord if thou observe Psal 45. 11. Mat. 15. 9. not his Rules and his Commands and Directions but the Commands and the Rules of Men. In vain do ye worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men But in that the Lords People have a Disposion to impose their own Understandings one upon another and in that though they have not had that full power so to do which they desiâ—ed yet have they manifested a persecuting spirit one against another meerly and onely for differences in Understanding by reproachful speeches which they have given
secret no inconvenience no evil effects come of it but being revealed are many times of very evil tendency But saith the Spirit of God A Tale-bearer revealeth secrets but he that is of a faithful Spirit concealeth the matter Prov. 11. 13. And he that goeth about as a Tale-bearer revealeth secrets therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips Prov. 20. 19. So that he that is a Tale-bearer is very unfaithful and it is a very indiscret thing to have much to do with such a one therefore meddle not with him though he speak never so fairly Sixthly The Scripture declares the displeasure of God to be great against such persons as Prov. 6. 16 17. These six things doth the Lord hate yea seven are an abomination unto him A proud look a lying tongue c. And him that soweth discord among Brethren And Psal 50. the Lord speaking of the wicked man saith this of him among other things Thou sittetest and speakest against thy Brother and slanderest thine own Mothers Son This is indeed an evil work which evil men are found in But saith the Lord These things hast thou done and I kept silence and thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thy self But I will reprove thee and set them in order before thee c. So that we see the Lord hates such works in any it is an abomination unto him and he will reprove them sharply that are guilty of them And Seventhly The Scripture declares that the Lord will cut off such from his house and from his Holy City if they repent not as Psal 101. 5. Who so privily slandereth his Neighbour him will I cut off Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer and vers 8. I will early destroy all the wicked of the Land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord. Now having thus in part taken a view of what the Scriptures of Truth speak concerning Tale-bearers We see that it greatly concerns the Lords people to be exhorted for time to come to be very wary of that hateful Evil of Tale-bearing or Back-biting and to keep a strict watch over themselves lest they be found some way or other guilty of it and to that end it concerns them to be very careful what they say of any person or party behind their backs And indeed upon all accounts the Lords People have great reason with David to set a watch before the door of their lips for sayes he I will take Ps 39. 1. heed to my wayes that I sin not with my tongue I will keep my mouth with a Bâ—idle Happy are they that so do and that do restrain their lips from many words for it is a great point of wisdom so to do as the Scripture declares Prov. 13. 3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction And Prov. 10. 19. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin but he that refraineth his lips is wise Many pâ—atling Women and Men also that take a liberty to let their tongues run wildly do not consider the great Truths contained in these words They seldom think that to be full of words is to be sinful and that it is true wisdom to refrain their lips from many words unless they are sure they are words that may adminisâ—er grace to the hearers And they little consider that the life and safety of their Souls depends upon the keeping their mouth and that destruction to their Souls may be the issue of opening wide their Lips And O how few are there that are so waâ—y of keeping their tongues as they ought For sayes James If any man â—ffend not in word the same is Jam. 3. 2. a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body But how few such perfect men are there How greatly therefore doth it concern the Lords People to be deeply sensible of the greatness of this great Evil which many of them have been very guilty of and most of them more or less have eâ—ed in Not that it is hereby asserted that in no case there ought to be any thing said of any person or persons miscarriages but to their faces for sometimes there may be good ends in speaking of them to some others in order to the reclaming of them as in order to the bringing of it to the Church when the rule requires it or in order to the moving Parents to reprove correct or instruct their Children as the occasion may be It cannot be said to be the fin of Joseph that he â—rought the evil repoâ—t of some of his Brethren to his Gen. 27. 2 Father The like may be said in other cases But what is here declared against is plainly shewed to be the Sin of whomsoever are guilty of it And that some in a Gospel-Church have been guilty of this Sin of Back-biting is clear by what Paul speaks to the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 12. 20. For I fear lest when I come among you I shall not find you such as I would and that I shall be found unto you such as you would not Lest there be debates envying strifes back bitings whisperings swellings tumults And 1 Cor. 1. 11. It hath been declared unto me of you my Brethren by them of the House of Cloe that there are contentions among you and Chap. 3. 3 4. For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you envyings and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men He had thus exprest himself in the first Chapter concerning this very Church I 1 Cor. 1 4 5 6 7. thank my God alwayes on your behalf for the Gâ—ace that is given you by Jesus Christ that in every thing ye are inriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge even as the Testimony of Christ was corfirmed in you so that you come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of ouâ— Lord Jesus Christ Here we see that some that were in a Church of Christ that were inriched by him in all utterance and all knowledge and came behind in no gift and that were waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ had contentions and strifes and envyings and back-bitings and whisperings and swellings and tumults amongst them which were a grief and trouble to Paul So that he was like to come among them when he did come rather with reproof and with a Rod then with that joy and comfort that he desired to come among them with And might it not be for these among other Evils that many of them were sick and weak and many were fallen asleep 1 Cor. 11. 30. But as in the Church of Corinth so many among the Churches in England are very guilty of this great Evil which the Lord haâ—es and the mischiefs which Back-bitings and Tale-bearings have done among many Church-Members have been very great and to cure the
done or no I know not but I suppose we shall hear more of it if the Confistory was made acquainted with this matter Yesterday a Friend of mine went to see him and speak with him but he was early gone out of Town to Sardum a Village not far from hence in North Holland And this day one hath been to inquire after him but he is not yet come to Town and it is doubtful whether he will come or no hither again Just now I am told that he hath given a Relation of the Message written with his own Hand to a Lutheran from whom I may happily get a Copie of it The Old Man hath told the same things to others as well as to me and I make no doubt but others will write of it into England Amsterdam August 16 26 1661. In which Letters I shall onely take notice of this one passage leaving the resâ— to be of what use the Lord shall please to make it to any namely That the Judgements of God are therein said to come upon those prosessing people For not living according to what they knew It is unquestionably true that sins against knowledge have much higher aggravations then sins of ignorance and God takes it more unkindly from his People when they sin against their knowledge then if they sin ignorantly †Luke 12. 47 48 The Servant that knew his Masters Will and did it not shall be beaten with many stripes But he that knew ‖ The times of this ignorance God winked at Acts. 17. 30. not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with feâ— stripes for unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required Happy are the People that live up to what they know If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them But those Peoples case is very deploreable and sad who have continued long in living in sins against knowledgeâ— Davids sins against knowledge cost him very dear and so have the sins against knowledge of many others and many that are yet prospering may be reserved to more severe judgements unless they repent In the consideration of which how greatly doth it concern the Lords People to dread and fear the continuing to live in the Sins that are in the preceding Discourse declared to be their sins They being all sins against their knowledge Sins which they all know to be Sins against the plain Laws and Precepts of the Lord their God and their Redeemer They may be and are many of them sinners in other respects in which they sin for want of knowledge they sin through ignorance but they cannot say so of any one of these Sins They sin as hath been said some of them in their Omissions of the Ordinances of the Lord Christ and others in the praâ—â—ise of them in an irregular way but this they do for want of knowledge though they are not thereby wholly excused they do not sin therein againsâ— their knowledge for it is out of doubt that many of them if not most of them do practice according to what they know and understand But the great sin of the Lords People lyeth in this That they do not live up to what they know do not walk according to the knowledge of the Gospel that every one in particular hath But now to provoke the Lords People to Repentance of these Sins against Some great and weighty Considerations which it concerns the Lords People in good earnest to consider of knowledge especially and thoroughly to amend their wayes I must here lay down some great and weighty Considerations which it concerns them seriously and in good earnest to consider I. It concerns them to Consider that when a People live in a continued course of sinning against the Lord in such great Abominations as these which the Lord so much abhors that though that People make never so high a Profession of being his People and though they appear much in worshipping of him in the Ordinances of his own appointment that yet the Lord doth abhor and loath their most solemn Services And they may keep many solemn Fasting Dayes or Feasting Dayes and yet have no acceptance with him but he may so loath them as to be ready to spue them out of his mouth yea though they be such as seem to have such confidence Consideration I in him as they desire the Day of the Lord as appears Amâ—s 5. 21 22 23 24. I hate I despise your Feast Dayes and I will not smell in your Solemn Assemblies I will not accept them neither will I regard the Peace Offerings of your Fat Beasts Take thou away from me the noise of thy Songs for I will not hear the Mellody of thy Viols But let Judgement run down as Water and Righteousness as a mighty Stream This People pretended to desire the Day of the Lord as appears in the three former Verses and they were diligent in worshiping him but they continued in a course of sinning against him and therefore he sayes I hate I despise your Services People may not think to live in sin and to pacifie the Lord with keeping dayes of Prayer or Praises or of hearing his Word No nothing without a through-amending of their wayes will find acceptance with him and it is a most unworthy thing to think that any thing else without this will do it I have heard a Story of a vile Prophane wicked Man that would wear an Image of Gold continually in his Hat And when he had done any great Evil that did trouble his Conscience then he would take down his God of Gold and kiss it and pray forgiveness of it and think all was well And what do they think less that think they may continue in Sin and paciâ—ie the Lord with their Prayers and Performances But they deceive themselves that will not do it Therefore it is said Mich. 6. 6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with burnt Offerings with Calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my first-born for my Transgression or the Fruit of my Body for the sin of my Soul All this were vain But he hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to love mercy and do justly and to walk bumbly with thy God Nothing less will please the Lord then a righteous holy humble walking before him And let none think to abuse Gospel-Grace and turn it into wantonness because they must not be saved by works but by the Blood of Christ therefore to waâ—k loosly for this is a certain truth both in the Law and Gospel That without Holiness no man Heâ— â—â— 14 shall see the Lord. It is true there is no Salvation by Works but by Christ alone But those who are saved by Christ are also Sanctified by
that are Professors at large and profess to be his Servants though far off from him do by their sinful wayes dishonour him more then others but they that seem to be Servants that are nearer to him being very sinful dishonour him more but they that pretend to be in a higher state and call themselves his Children and call him Father These by their iniquities dishonour him much more But that those are yet nearer and are accounted Gospel-Churches which the Scriptuâ—e stiles and which if truly constituted are indeed the very Spouse the very Bride of the Lord Jesus for these to play the Haâ—lot and imbrace other Lovers for these to be drunken with the cares of this Life for these to be drunk with passion and frowardness of Spirit for these to be proud and haughty which vice he haâ—es for these to be wretched perfidious Covenant-breakers which God and man abhors for these to be hard-hearted stony-hearted Creatures and to be regardless of holy Duties which they should be more diligent in then any for these to be regardless of his Counsels and Love-Letters and not to meditate on his Word as if it were not worthy to be regarded is the highest reproach and dishonour and the greatest grief and wounding to him that can be imagined O what cuts and gashes to speak after the manner of men do these make in the very heart of Christ O what a dishonour are these to him What a blot and reproach do they bring upon his most Glorious and most Holy Name Therefore saith the Lord by Ezekiel I will sanctifie my great Name which Ezek. 36. â—3 was prophaned among the Heathen which ye the House of Israel prophaned in the midst of them And on the other hand when the Lords People do walk in all his Laws and Ordinances blamelesly when they cannot be blamed for Covetousness nor Pride nor any other Evil but they do in all things observe the blessed Commandments of the Lord Jesus Then saith our Lord Jesus Men may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 16. And â—erein is my Father glorified that ye bring forth much fruit So John 15. 8. that it is undeniable that the good Works the Holy and Heavenly Conversations of his People do glorifie the Lord are to his Praise and to his Honour and that the sinfulnesses of their Conversations are a great dishonour reproach and blot unâ—o his great Name And therefore Naâ—han tells David That he by his sinfulness in the matter of Vriah had caused the Enemies of the Lord to blasphâ—me And the Apostle James speaking of some that were rich that did despise the poor having the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Persons respecting the Man in rich Array more then a man in mean Apparel sayes thus Do not they Blaspheme that worthy Name by which ye are called Jam. 2. 7 And that the unrighteousness of Saints do greatly prophane and dishonour that worthy Name by which they are called appears thus To instance but in one particular Evil of theirs viz. That sin of Covetousness When they that are the Lords People who profess that he is their Portion are as 〈◊〉 sâ—eking for themselves and theirs the things of this World though they therein break many of his blessed Precepts and Instructions and neglect many Duties as any others as if they would give the World thereby to understand that there is no such satisfaction in the Lord for their Souls as is declared as if there were more sweetness in the World then in Him as if that were an untrue Character of him that the Spouse gives Cant. 5. from 9. to 18. verse As if Habakkuk had not reason to say Although the Fig-tree shall not blossom neither shall Fruit be in the Vines The labour of the Olive shall fail and the Fields shall yeeld no Meat The Flock shall be cut off from the Fold and the Herd shall be cut off from the Stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my Salvation As if that were not fit to be said that David sayes Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee And there is none upon Earth that I desire beside thee I say when they that are the Lords People do this How horribly do they herein reproach their Lord and wound and prophane his most holy Name The like may be said of all or of any of the other Evils that any of them are guilty of And such as continue in these or any of those Evils will not 1 Pet. 1. â— be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ But happy are they that so walk as that God in all things may be glorified by them through Jesus Christ our Lord. Happy are they that so use the World so labour foâ— things convenient for their Families so eat and drink and injoy all outward Comforts as onely to fit them for the Service of their Lord and King and are not Servants to the World or any thing that they injoy but the Servants of their God only that Whether they eat or drink or whatsoever they do do all to the Glory of God and do not dishonour him in their seeking after earthly things nor in eating or drinking or injoying 1 Cor. â—â— 31. any Creature-Comfort but have their moderation so to all those things as it shall appear to all men that God is the great delight and joy of their Souls and none of these things do steal their hearts from or weaken their affections to him Happy are they that are so overcome by the Mercies of God as they present their Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service And happy are those that so Rom. â—â— â— walk in all things that God may have glory in them and they may indeed be the glory of Christ But O how few are of this Stamp and what great reason have we to pray and say Our Father which art in Heaven sanctified be thy great Name And oh that the consideration of this how greaâ—ly the Lords People have prophaned and do prophane his holy Name might be so deeply fixed on all their hearts as that they might be greatly drawn to look on his precious Name which they have prophaned dishonoured wounded and reproached and mourn and be in great bitterness as one mourneth and is in bitterness for his only Son or for his First-born Zach. â—â— 10. There might be several other Considerations added to these as inducements to the Lords People to induce and provoke them to that thorow-amending their wayes and turning to the Lord from all their Evils with their whole heart and cleaving to him with full purpose of heart but these four are of so great weight and force as if these prevail not twenty more may not But through the Lords Blessing these may be
thorowly effectual to that blessed desired and longed-for end Now from the whole Premises these following Positions may be clearly laid down First That those Professors of the fear of the Lord that have been so polluted Position I as is declared and that do continue in those Evils whether of Commission or Omission are very unworthy and very unmeet to be accounted Members of his House and though they may be at present Members of several Congregations yet they are such as shall be cut off from the City of the Lord if they repent not when he shall come thorowly to puâ—ge his Mat. 3. 11. Floor and gather his Wheat into his Garner Secondly That is the great duty of those that are gifted and gracious spirited Position II men and men that have obtained mercy to be faithfull that are in the several Congregations and Societies of them that profess the fear of the Lord whether they are Officers among them or †For some Officers may be â—â— guilty of these Evils as some others any others that are so qual fied to do these three things First To promote and press with all earnesâ—ness and â—ervency of Spirit the work of unseigned Humiliation before the Lord and of true Repentance for all or any of these Evils that are found among any of them all yea to be lying at the Feet of the Lord continually and to give him no resâ— until he pour our such a poâ—tion of his Spirit upon them as may truly â—nable them to be ashamed of all the Evils they have done and to loath themselves in Truth for all their abominations I say To give the Lord no rest until Duty I he do these things for them and not to content themselves with keeping a day of Fasting and to think when that is done all is well but to be impoâ—tunate seckers of the Lord for such a truly broken and penitenâ— Spiâ—it as God will not despise that they may be truly as it is â—aiâ— Ezek. 7. 16. of them that shall escape from the Sword without and thâ—â—â—estilence and Famine within like Doves of the Valâ—eys 〈◊〉 of them 〈◊〉 every one for his Iniquity even for his and her partâ—cular Inâ—quiâ—y most especially and also for all the abomiâ—ations of others also that they may have that special Mark chap. 9. 4. And Secondly It is the Duty also of such faithful Serâ—ants of the Lord Duty II in the several Congregations to declare unto the Members of each Society that are guilty of such Evils and live in them That they ought not to be admitted to be paâ—takeâ—s of the great Ordinance of the Lords Supper unless they repent so as to reform and thorowly amend their wayes it being a very dangerous thing to approach to the Table of the Lord in these pollutions and deformities and not having on their beautiful Garments viz. The Royal Robes of Righâ—eousness the Blessed Ornament of a meek and Isa 51. 10 1 Pet. 3. 4 1 Pet. 5. 5 Rev. 15. Psal 45. quiet Spirit and the precious cloathing of Humility even all those white Robes and Golden Girdles and Cloathings of Wrought Gold that do signifie all the Fruits and gracious Operations of the Holy Spirit And that it is dangerous appears 1 Cor. 11. 26 27 to 30. For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords Death until he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup for he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eâ—teth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body For this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many are fallen asleep Where it is clear that it is a very dangerous thing for a man to draw near to the Table of the Lord without examination of himself whether there be any iniquity that he lives in whether he be a Vestâ—â— on whom holiness to the Lord is visibly written or not It is very dangerous to rush unto the Table of the Lord without any fear or dread of coming unworthily not considering that such as have so done are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord and that such as have so done have for this cause been sick and weak and have fallen asleep And it is most certain That It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table without the Spirit of Love that ingages the Soul to true and uâ—feigned love to all Saints as Members of the same Body so as to communicate freely and liberally as God hath blessed as to Members of our own Body not like a Churâ— It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with hearts full of Adultery Mystical Adultery hearts given up unto other Lovers and not to the Lord. It is dangerous coming to that Table with froward hearts contentious spirits having any heart rising against any person or persons Or which is somwhat less It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with slightings of any others that are members of Christ as truly as we for the Corinthians coming together and some having a fulness of outward things did eat and drink when others that were poor in this world had not and were hungry The Apostle calls these Actions in them that were full a despising of the Church of God the poor Members aâ— truly making up the Church of God as those that were rich and a shaming of them that have not The poorer sort it may be seeing their fulness having their Bottles of Wine and costly Cakes and dainty Viands being made ashamed that had it not Now their thus â—lighting the poor which Evil James also reproves as hath been shewed and shaming of them in that particular is the sin the Apostle here reproves and advises them rather to eat and drink in their own Houses then They it may be would tarry for the rich to grieve and shame the Poor and not to slight the Poor but to tarry one for another for sayes he verses 20 21. When ye come together therefore into one place this is not to eat the Lords Supper for in eating every one taketh before another his own Supper and one is hunâ—ry and another is drunken that is Hath drunk sufficiently and fed sufficiently And vers 33 34. Wherefore my Brethren when ye come together to eat tarry one for another and if any man hunger let him eat at Home that ye come not together unto condemnation It is a dangerous thing to come to that Table with a proud Heart Psal 101. 5. Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer Such shall not be welcome to his Table In a word He that is guilty of and continueth in any Evil whether of Omission or Commission whether of the Evils that have been declared
and I will cure them and I will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth And I will cause the Captivity of Judah and the Captivity of Israel to return and will build them as at the first And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me And it shall be unto me a Name of Joy a Praise and an Honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear all the good that I do unto them And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it In which Scripture we find that the Lords People had sinned and greatly provoked him And therefore the Houses of Jerusalem and the Houses of the Kings of Judah were thrown down by the Mounts and by the Sword and the places were filled with the dead bodies of the men whom the Lord had slain in his anger and in his fury and for all whose wickedness the Lord had hid his face from that City which doth manifest that their sins had been very great against the Lord and yet notwithstanding the greatness of their sins doth not hinder but the Lord who is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness and truth graciously promiseth that he will bâ—ing it Health and Cure he will heal all their Soul-Diseases all then Wounds and â—ruisâ—s and puâ—ifying Sores and cure them effectually and wiâ— cleanse tâ—em from all the iniquities whereby they have sinned against him and when â—e hath cleansed and healed them then he will â—eveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth So that it is clear and unquestionable that though a People have been great back-sliders and have â—â—â—atly reâ—olâ—ed from the Lord yet there is hope concerning such The Lorâ— can heal such and the Lord will heal such for he hath promised it and when he hath healed he will speak Peace unto them yea he will reveal unto them the abundance of Peace and Truth and such shall be unto him A Name of Joy a Praise and an Honour before all the Nations of the Earth which shall hear all the good that he will do unto them and shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that he will procure unto them PSAL. 81. from 8 to 16. Hear O my People and I will testifie unto thee O Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me There shall no strange God be in thee neither shalt thou worship any strange God I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the Land of Egypt open thy mouth wide and I will fill it But my People would not hearken unto my Voice and Israel would none of me So I gave them up unto their own hearts lusts and they walked in their own Counsels O that my People had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes I should soon have subdued their Enemies and turned my hand against their Adversaries The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him but their time should have endured for ever He should have fed them with the finest of the Wheat and with Honey out of the Rock should I have satisfied thee MAT. 5. 18 19. For verily I say unto you Till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfilled Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven POST-SCRIPT THere are two or three things in this preceeding Discourse that may possibly be mistaken and mis-understood by some to prevent which I thought good to add this Post-script before it comes forth to publick view The first is page 14. in these words As to be able to give great Portions to their Daughters great Estates to their Children Which words I do not recal by no means but as they are exprest with the words that next follow them in the same and in the line following them they are for just reproof to those covetous Sheepherds those * Isa 56. 11. greedy Dogs that scrape up all that ever they can of this World and â—oard it up covetously and currishly not communicating freely to the Members of Jesus Christ that are in distress or if they part with it do it spareingly and grudgingly and not of a ready mind But that I may not be mistaken in the recited words I must declare that I do by no means condemn those worthy and blessed Preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that have good and plentiful Estates and that are of a generous and bountiful Spirit as I know some are and that do make it manifest that they have the quallifications of Elders of Churches mentioned 1 Tim. 13. 2. and Tit. 1. 8. and that are inabled both to be liberal and bountiful and have wherewith to give good Estates to their Children for they are left at the same liberty therein that all other Servants of the Lord are that have large Estates whose duty it is to give largely to his Saints of what God hath given them and who may withal give large Estates to their Children and it cannot be said to be their sin so to do for it is unquestionably the duty of them that hear the Word to †1 Cor 9 from 6 10 14. communicate so plentifully to them that Preach it if they have it not otherwise that they may have wherewith to do both and it is the sin of their †That are rich in this world 1 Tim. 6. 17 18. Hearers if they do not so do For ordinarily many that Preach the Gospel are men of as good Parts and Abilities to mannage a Trade or Merchandizes or any Office that may bring in a good Estate for the supplies of their Families and large supplies also as any other men that do by such wayes get great Estates in the World And if by giving up themselves to this Service of the Lord they are taken off from so doing they â—â— consider it not and administer not to them accordingly are vâ— disingenious and unworthy people Secondly Another passage in the preceeding Discourse in whiâ—â— I would not be mistaken is that though I do not particularly meâ—tion any other Oaths Ingagements Protestations Vows or Pâ—mises that have been solemnly made but the Solemn League aâ— Covenant that was entered into about 22 years since that yet tâ— breach of any other Oath Vow or Covenant is as much condeâ—ned as the breach of that And wo is me that I must say it Thâ—â— Land mouâ—ns because of Oaths of Oaths that have been wickedâ— and sinfully broken by those that have profest the Fear of the Loâ—â— And I am perswaded that nothing but unfeigned Humiliations aâ— deep Contritions of those that have been guilty of this Sin for thâ— Sin or the taking away their lives from the Earth will pacifie thâ— Lords Wrath or stay his dreadful Judgements from coming doâ— upon these Nations Thirdly Whereas it is said page 73. That the Lambs Followâ— shall be of the disposiâ—ion of faithful Abraham Thereby is ment Thâ— they shall by no means take when it is offered to them the Worâ—â— Wealth from any of the World no more then Abraham took of thâ— King of Sodom But yet may the Lord give them some other waâ— plentifully of these things as he did to Abraham But the Worâ— shall have no cause to say That their Wealth hath made them ricâ— Christian Reader whoever thou art thou mayest be assured foâ— the Lord knoweth that I speak the Truth and lie not I. That this whole Work is done in obedience to the Lord whâ— laid it with a strong hand upon me though I †As Jeremiah pleaded and not otherwise Jer. 1. 6. pleaded to be eâ—empted from it and though to flesh and blood it was a hard tâ—â— for several Reasons And II. Thou mayest be as well assured also that this whole work iâ— done in true love to every Soul that is reproved therein whethâ—â— they be known or unknown to me for it may reach the Souls oâ— many thousands whose faces I never saw and of whose Nameâ— much less Conversations I never heard And the God of Isrâ—â— grant his Blessing to it Amen FINIS
Jesus Christ And for those that pretend Faith in Christ for such to live in sin because Grace hâ—th abounded it is the more an abomination unto the Lord and of such he will say That he hates and despises their Services and he will not smell any sweet â—avour in their performances neither can they make any mellody in their Hearts to the Lord. And as it is said here Take away from me the noise of thy Songs I will not hear the mellody of thy Viols So may he say to such And to this purpose the Lord expresses himself also by his Prophet Jeremiah â—er 14. 12. When they fast I will not hear their cry And when they offer burnt Offerings and an Oblation I will not accept them but I will consume them by the Sword and by the Famine and by the Pestilence And Jer. 6. 20. To what purpose cometh there to me Incense from Sheba and the sweet Cane from a far Countrey Your burnt Offeâ—ings aâ—e â—ot acceptable nor your Sacrifices sweet unto me It is well known that this People were the Lords People â—hey were the House of Jacob and they frequently drew near to God to â—â—rship him according to his own appointments offering burnt Offerings and Sacrifices and Oblations and Fasted and Prayed and yet the Lord sayes To what purpose do you do all this It is not acceptable unto me I will not accept them nor hear your cry And he speaks also to the same puâ—pose by the Prophet Isaiâ—h Isa 1. 11 12. c. To what purpose is the multitude of your Saâ—rifices unto me saith the Lord. I am full of the burnt Offerings of Rams and of the â—at of fed Beasts I delight not in the Blood of Bul locks or of Lambs or of He-goats When ye come to appear before me who hath required this at your handâ— that ye tread my Courts Bring no more vain Oblations Incense is an abomâ—nation unto me The new Moons and Sabbaths The calling of the Assemblies I cannot away with it is iniquity even your solemn Meetings Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them And when you spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you Yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood Wash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well c. Here it is plain that though there be a multitude of Duties performed yet if a People be polluted with Sin and Defilement it is to no purpose To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices to me saith the Lord The Lord desires Holiness more then Sacrifices and Purity of Heart more then Prayers For if a People be full of sin and iniquity and hugg that and keep that in their bosoms still though they make many Prayers he will not hear them and for the fastings of such a People they are not at all acceptable unto him When they fast I will not hear their cries because they do not put away the evil of their doings from before his eyes the evil of their Coverousness and hardness of heart c. But he tells us what Fast will be acceptable unto him Isa 58. 6 7. Is not this the Fast that I have chosen To loose the bands of Wickedness to undoe heavy burthens and to let the oppressed go free and that ye break every Yoak Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy House When thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy self from thine own flesh This is the Fast that God hath chosen such a day of Fast as wherein a man doth so truly repent of sin as â—o put it quite away and never return to it any more but to be greatly exercised in the contrary vertue for ever after And dayes of Humiliation and Fasting are appointed for this end that persons may be so truly humbled under the sence of sin as to loath themselves for it and to acknowledge that they are not worthy to ear Bread or to â—eceive any mercy for their refreshment And if we ought to loath our selves for sin much more should we â—oath all our abominations in the sight of the Lord and this the Lord requires Put away all the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well to be free-hearted tender-hearted compassionate Deal thy Bread to the hungry bring the poor that are cast out to thy House cloath the naked and hide not thy self from thine own flesh from the pinching streights of thy Brother whose pinching necessiries should be on thy heart with as much sence as if it were on thine own flesh for their flesh is as our flesh and their Neh. 5. 5. Children as our Children Wouldst thou suffer thine own Body or thine own Wife or Children to be in such streights and distresses as thoâ— seest some of the Lords dear Servants sometimes aâ—e in O hide not thy self from thine own flesh put away covetousness and hardness of heart cease from that and all other Evils and learn to do well in these and all other blessed deeds Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them that be in adversity as being your selves also in the Body Heb. 1â— 2. And to do good and to communicate forget not For with such Sacrifices God is well pleased vers 16. Such Fastings as are accompanied with such Sacrifices with a liberal and bountiful doing of these things â—e the * * Fastings that God expects and accepts and otherwise when personâ— Fast and bow down their hands as a Bull-rush for a time and continue in sin though they should pray till their voice and strength should fail and Fast till their bodies were fainting and dying it would find no acceptance with God but be loathsome unto him Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble unto me I am weary to bear them Why doth the Lord so loath these performances which were of his own appointments Because they were a sinful People a People laden with iniquity a seed of Evil doers Children that were Corrupters that had forsaken the Lord and provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger and were gone away backward Isa 1. 4. Which are the direct Characters of many of the Lords People now though they continue worshiping of him in his own appointments as they did them for they did come to appear before the Lord and tread his Courts and frequent the solemn Assemblies and observe the new Moons and offer a multitude of Sacrifices and burnt Verses 11 12 13 14 15. Offerings of Rams and of Bullocks and Lambs and of He-Goats and did spread forth their hands and make many Prayers Now let all the Lords People seriously