as obedient Children and Servants forthwith do the same Agreeable hereunto was the practice of God's Servants of old Time as Noah Lot Abraham and Jacob they did Serve and Worship God and did many things purely out of his Command without reasoning and mercinariness That is without knowing wherefore and also without a particular Promise of any more Reward from the hands of God With such Obedience or Service God was well pleased and they are recorded for our admonition and ensample upon whom the ends of the World are come That albeit Glory and Immortality and Eternal Life are more clearly discovered and made known unto us than they were to our Fathers yet we should be altogether as zealous and diligent in the Work of the Lord as they were without so much consideration had to what is further promised and assured unto us but we should do it only because the Lord requires it and then leave it unto him whether he will make any Recompence yea and be contented if he should give none We should acknowledge our selves unprofitable Servants we have done only what was our duty to do It was God who brought us into being and gave us power thus to act so it is but a due return of our being formed by him even for the Engine to move as he would have it It is just to comply with the End of our Maker or if this be left to our choice and freedom it is better when so performed of a willing and ready mind for God loves such a disposition of Soul And if there be such an Heart in People all the future Discourse would be in vain for they would both offer and act willingly without being pressed to it Let the way be only shewed they will both walk yea and run in it without being pricked forward let it be declared what they have to do and they will forthwith actually do it without so much argument and persuasion If any one throughly assures and clearly demonstrates unto them That the Lord hath said and enjoyned them thus there is need of no more words for we will do it Truly God is good and all things shall work together for good to them that love God and that are called according to the purpose of his Will Rom. 8. 28. And we will trust in the general without being particularly told how the several things are so We will commit our way unto the Lord and keep stedfast in his Covenant come Life or Death Shame or Dishonour good Report or evil Report Loss or Advantage being assured that God will so over-rule things in his Providence that even these contrary things shall tend yet more to our real and enduring Happiness Those Saints of old who were hungry and thirsty are now come to that place where they are filled and they do enjoy the fulness and fatness of God's House It is a greater degree of Happiness to have been miserable to reflect that the contrary Evil is done away and there succeeds in the room a greater good and fulness so that even Self-denial and Hardship do make way for more Enjoyment and Rest Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who went about doing good whose Meat and Drink it was to do the Will of his Heavenly Father who did not much regard the perishing Comforts of this World as to be fully employed in and faithfully discharge that Message he was sent about So Job did more regard the Words of God's Mouth than his necessary Food For the one was of more Concernment and greater Advantage to himself than the other as it was found at last And though this might not be at first apprehended yet the sense of his Duty to God did make him give the Esteem and Preference Where is Love and Good-will towards God this makes that his Commandments do not seem grievous They are indeed represented so by the Tempter who would keep off from the Observance of them but they are not so in themselves And this hath been at sundry times cleared and manifested both by the inspired Men who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and also by other Labourers in God's Vineyard who out of their VVritings and from the very Reality and Reason of things have brought out the Truth The like also we have endeavoured by God's Grace and Assistance to shew and even to demonstrate unto the most natural and ungodly Man VVho keeps off because of this Frightning and Temptation and therefore we addressed unto him if he would but judge of what he is vainly afraid to practise for then his former Fear and Aversation would wear off and he would experimentally find the Truth and Reality of things as they are there spoken of The Subject is Of Happiness wherein it is fully and particularly manifested that the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in Opposition to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended Conveniency of Disobedience By Richard Stafford VVhich is shewed as to the present Evil and Pain of several Sins there named and also of the Good and Excellency of the commanded Duties there instanced in And the like may in the same manner be demonstrated of all the rest either mentioned in the VVord of God or ever heard of even as to all the Actions and Doings of Men whatever they are concerned in so it is differently of the Good and Evil Duty and Sin of what is commanded or what is forbidden Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false Way Psal 119. 128. The like Nature runs through them all that they are really good and desirable yea and to be observed So in every false VVay there is Destruction and Misery which should be avoided And was there a like Observance of all God's Precepts and an abstaining from all Appearance of Evil any one would both judge and experimentally find the same as the Man after God's own Heart did But by reason of that abundant Sin and Corruption which is every where and hath spread it self over all Nations and Men yea and there is also a reserved Iniquity in those who seem to be VVorshippers and Servants of God which like the Herb that caused Death in the Pot so this occasions Sowerness and Misery And therefore this great Truth is scarce discernable O that thou hadst hearkned to my Commandments then had thy Peace been as a River and thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea Isa 48. 18. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have Respect unto all thy Commandments Psal 119. 6. I shall not live in Doubt and Misery I shall not be disappointed of so much pretended Good or Conveniency as may be thought to be had in the Transgression of this or that Commandment as the Sinner thinks expedient In the forementioned Place of Isa 48. 18. It is first said Thy Peace had been as a River and then
returned from the Slaughter of the Kings But when God shall do that last and great Act as to cause that Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2. 4. VVhich Scripture hath not been as yet fulfilled But is to be fulfilled according to that Divine Method and Dispensation The Word and things of God shall be fulfilled in their Season Luke 1. 20. Then the Lord bringeth forth the Chariot-Horse the Army and the Power They shall lye down together they shall not rise they ore Extinct they are quenched as Tow Isa 43. 17. God will bring them forth to shew only and not for Use and Service That this righteous and peaceable Generacion may just see what kinds of Instruments their Fore-Fathers a Rebellious and stubborn Generation did make use of to kill and destroy which they who shall feed like Lambs after their manner Isa 5. 17. will hardly believe without seeing them that ever so much Violence and Mischief should be in the Hearts of Men or that such Instruments of Cruelty and Destruction should be found in their Habitations But as the Lord commanded that a Pot full of Manna should be laid up before the Lord in their Generations that they may see the Bread wherewith I have fed you in the Wilderness when I brought you forth from the Land of Egypt Exod. 16. 32 33 34. So it is convenient and requisite that some of each sort of those Weapons and devices of VVar should be kept for a Testimony that the Generations following may just see how it was with the Earth when God Created the Smith that bloweth the Coals in the Fire and that bringeth forth an Instrument for his Work and that had created the Waster to destroy Isa 54. 16. When at thy Rebuke O God of Jacob the Chariot and Horse are cast into a dead Sleep Psal 76. 6. Never to awake out of it again For it is before said The stout hearted are spoiled they have slept their Sleep they are bereaved and stript of those Engines wherewith they did execute their Revenge and Terror in the Land of the Living And now they have slept their sleep they have done all their do which they must never do again What they did then do was as much at random and uncertainty from the true and proper ends of Man's Life which was intended for Preservation and not for the Destruction of others and at last of themselves by so doing as Sleep is now different from Waking for in Sleep we Dream and think confusedly without the use of Reason and Knowledge But they shall lye down together they shall not rise There is an utter end of all that they are extinct as Tow the Wrath of Man which did heretofore kindle all this God shall restrain Surely the Wrath of Man shall Praise thee the remainder of Wrath shalt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. So as it shall go no further and then it will sink and come to nothing of it self They are quenched as Tow. If it would begin to smoak again God will take care to put it out that it shall burn no more Where his Prophet uses these kind of pertinent and significative Phrases he immediately adds Remember ye not the former things neither consider the things of old Behold I will do a new thing now it shall spring forth shall ye not know it Isa 43. 18 19. This is as much as if God should say Ye may just see and think of those former things but they are not worthy of your Remembrance and Consideration in comparison to that new thing which God will do which shall be both more pleasant Entertainment to the Minds of his Creatures and it shall be infinitely more satisfactory for them to be employ'd therein than heretofore in making Preparations for War or hearing tidings from the Camp I will even make a way in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert The Holy Ghost seems here to allude unto the March of an Army with their Power who being to pass through a Wilderness or Desarts send those before them to make way as by cutting down the Woods and Briars and making rough places plain and removing great Stones or Rubbish As also to guide and conduct them in the intricate way As also to seek out Forage Food and Water for Man and for Beast if they can find out Springs and Rivers in the Desert wherein is least likelihood of any and therein is most want of them But God will supply all this to his Creatures or make up unto them what is signified thereby The Beasts of the Field shall Honour me the Dragons and the Owls Because I give Waters in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert to give drink to my People my chosen V. 20. Besides that Satisfaction and Content which without doubt is in the irrational but sensible Creatures upon Gods being their Creator and Maker and also for his providing all things necessary and convenient for them Hereby also may be signified That when those ungodly Men and Women who have been transformed after the manner of Beasts and have those inward Qualities and likeness unto Dragons and Owls as to love Destruction and hate the Light do come to see and know what God doth for his Elect People They will come to Honour and have an inward reverential Esteem of him also This People have I formed for my self They shall shew forth my Praise Ver. 21. Here is the drift and design the End and Consummation of all that as God made Men and Women They should even now as in the latter days they shall be purely formed for himself They shall shew forth his Praise That is They shall have no other End but God and to lay out themselves for him and God shall be their All in All and nothing shall be heard amongst them but Praises Praises to the Lord. Then the World will be as it should be CHAP. VII There will be an End of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God WHen the Earth shall be reformed and become Righteous this effect will also be seen and perceived There shall be no more Hatred of and Persecution against the Servants of God They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain for the Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. It hath been always and in all places found That where is most of the Knowledge of the Lord that is such Knowledge as is true Saving and Sanctifying there hath been least Persecution as again where hath been most Ignorance and Darkness there the Persecuting work hath gone forward and abounded But when the World shall be thus universally replenished with the Knowledge of the Lord there will not be the least degree nor manner of it not so much as to hurt Body or Soul as to lay any hardship or restraint upon the first nor yet to tempt or cause the
have not I do not say could not accomplished and brought to pass How it will be all done suddenly and at an instant by the pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High may be seen in Page 295. As also that there will be an end of all Wars and of all Persecution is shewed in Page 285 288. which will be a very great Good to Mankind So that the â—…king known these things will tend â—…re to the real Benefit of Man than spending their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfieth not or consuming so much time in other and vain Things I need not say much more by way of Preface and Introduction But here I shall only add this further That according as God is now pleased to accompany and Seal these Truths with the droppings and distillings of that same Spirit which hereafter he will pour out And according as that self-same Spirit giveth Understanding for it is too common that the Works and Things of God are not understood Psal 106. 7. Acts 7. 25. for these things are Spiritually discerned As also there is a need of a distinguishing Judgment as to discern and know which are the real Truths of God from the Imaginations or Sayings of other meer Humane Writers Again According as the following Words of Truth do approve themselves to the Hearts and Consciences of the Real and Inward see Rom. 2. 29. and not so much to the Nominal and outward Christians And according as Care Endeavour Industry and Diligence are used in the publishing and making them known so accordingly they will meet with Acceptance or Rejection from the World THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Introduction to the following Book Page 1 CHAP. II. Wherein that Proposition is at large discussed That People are not forced and compelled to the Obedience of God but they are left herein to their own Free Choice or Refusal p. 15 CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so Grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him p. 118 CHAP. IV. Therein it is discoursed of that false Thought in the Hearts of many People That if they should submit Presently unto the Obedience of God they shall be losers and disappointed of so much Pleasure and Conveniency in the mean while They shall miss of so much imagined Happiness and fall into Vexation Trouble and Misery p. 183 CHAP. V. Herein sundry things are written against them who will not be persuaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude p. 244 CHAP. VI. It is made known in the general from the Scriptures of Truth without any Reflections on Particular Nations or Governments that at length there will be an end of all Wars p. 285 CHAP. VII As also that there will be an end of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God p. 288 CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter Days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High p. 295 CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psal 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of that whole Psalm p. 310 Whereunto is subjoyned the shutting up and Conclusion of the whole Book p. 314 Practical Discourses OR AN Earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately unto the Lord their God As the same is opened and alledged from what is written Psal 18. 43 44 45. Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen A People whom I have not known shall serve me As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places CHAP. I. The Introduction IF all Mankind of all Generations and Countries were now summoned together and there was a Voice that could reach them all as God will at the last Day gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there Joel 3. 2. By his own Power and uttering forth his Voice It would be proper to preach and make known these Words unto them But in the mean time he hath shewed the Way and he doth require it of us under the Danger and Penalty of Disobedience that all we should publish the Word Psal 68. 11. which he hath given us as far as we can And he hath so ordered that the still Voice of his Spirit should be sent forth into the Hearts of many People All things are to be done as far as he hath pointed out and put into our Power All we should help whatever we can towards the Furtherance thereof for the Work of the Lord is common and should be the joint Endeavour of all his Servants Ever since the World began and down until this Time and what futher remains on the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by Force According to our Ability we ought severally to the utmost of yea and beyond our Power to be continually doing the Will of God bring Glory unto his Name to further and carry on with all our Might and Diligence the common Salvation to endeavour by all Means possible yea our selves are to act and suffer an holy Violence that People may be more brought over and added unto the Lord. As God is to be loved with all the Soul and with all the Strength and with all the Heart and with all the Mind So all things we have or can do are to be laid out and resolutely put forth without any more Intermission or Weariness than what is absolutely necessary and requisite in his Service and doing good unto others None are to be idle but as we are warned of so ought we to avoid to our utmost that we fall not under the Doom of the unprofitable Servant For behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every Man according as his Work shall be Rev. 22. 12. And we having but a short Time might learn this Wisdom from the Serpent to improve this our Time to the utmost Advantage to oppose and destroy his Kingdom to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and to recover those that are already taken captive at his Will As he walketh about seeking whom he may devour so is the Will of the most high God that his Servants should run to and fro that knowledge may be increased Dan. 12. 4. that many may be converted and saved And when each Person is converted then he is to strengthen his Brethren and to endeavour what lieth in him that others may be converted also and so on The like Care and Endeavour is to be used and spread abroad that all Men may be saved and come to the
the Sense of the Creator yet all these are made an Occasion to forget him the least conceiving or inward reasoning would instantly have led up to the Apprehension of him That it must be some one who made all these things for even as to the Houses which we inhabit we must conclude that some one did build them though it was before we were born And so this great House of the World must needs have been framed by him who built all things and he that built all things is God Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Heb. 11. 3. The Heavens continue standing as they were from the Days of the Creation yet that once was and must needs have been But then further the very Continuance and upholding of the things created doth most plainly demonstrate this eternal Power and Godhead For I lift up my Hand to Heaven and say I live for ever Deut. 32. 40. This may be clearly seen for the vast Roof of the Sky is kept up without any mighty Beams or Pillars He stretcheth forth the North over the empty Place and hangeth the Earth upon nothing but then it abides only by his Support He upholds all things by the Word of his Power He forms and gives Life and Breath to the several things therein They are born move a little between and then they die one after another Hereby giving us to signifie that himself alone is eternal and immortal without Beginning or any Ending They increase fade and decay which is a manifest Token of Difference from his own infinite Perfection Fullness and Unchangeableness They are divided and separated from one another which again distinguishes from him who is all in all whose Spirit filleth the World They are very little and small which is another Diversity from his infinite Greatness They are contemptible and weak wherefore to him alone belongs all Honour Glory Power and Strength He hath shewed himself to be the Lord and a jealous God by the very Frame of things which have been as it were of set Purpose so contrived that they should not draw off the least Glory Excellency and Admiration from the great Creator and supreme Majesty of Heaven and Earth How all these have been abused and stifled by the most detestable Ignorance and Folly by the utmost Malice and Perverseness of Mankind and by the manifold Devices of Satan and by sundry other Ways will be one Day particularly disclosed when all things shall be reckoned up in order as they have been done and transacted in this Earth Things have been turned and perverted just contrary to what they were first intended O strange Sottishness and Blindness O wicked Folly There is a Rehearsal of it throughout the Thirty Second Chapter of Deuteronomy and the Reason of all may be somewhat understood from the Twentieth Verse And he said I will hide my Face from them I will see what their End shall be for they are a very froward Generation Children in whom is no Faith If God did not hide himself or if they had but Faith still to apprehend him it is impossible that Mankind should be so unmindful or negligent of the things pertaining to him For they who are thankful for common Mercies and daily Benefits and catch at every little thing if these did clearly apprehend how all things are God's and themselves have from him whatever they enjoy they would also give the same continual Thanks unto him and having this Earnest and Pledge they would seek diligently after the great things of God Who admire at every little Novelty they would much more be astonished at the Wonders of his Majesty Who are so careful to please their Superiours according to the Flesh least they should receive Injury or Oppression and also they are sincere and loving towards them if they receive Good and Benefits from them these same People would be alike obedient and fearful to displease the Lord their Maker unto whom the Inhabitants of the Earth are but as Grashoppers or a Compapany of creeping Worms If we were made alike throughly sensible that as God doth good so he can punish more than one Man doth to another there would be the like Reverence and Awe unto him It is certain that he doth give us already whatever we enjoy and is not that which we have constantly even from our Youth up more than those little Additions of Kindness we have now and then from another and consequently such do require greater Gratitude and Love And then what he is further pleased to promise doth not that infinitely exwhatever can be thought of or named or ceed had here May we not wisely and with Advantage renounce what now might be had if it doth hinder from the Hope and Expectation of that as that same Word which makes known the great Salvation and the Means how to obtain it doth expresly declare One might run over many Particulars which would manifestly shew That if the things of God were really believed and considered of there would be the same yea more earnest Care and Labour after them than after the things of this Earth And we should perform our Duty to him in all things which he requires of us as we give Honour and do Offices one to another But this hidden Mystery of the Kingdom of God and of the Divine Dispensation hath puzzled the Understandings and Actings of Men. Indeed Man hath a confused apprehension of things but he knows little distinctly and acts yet worse towards his Maker Either he doth not know or not believe or he is inconstant and imperfect as to both Or when he knows the hindrances he wilfully gives way and is kept off by them and when he sees the Temptations he doth yield unto them or an unseen Enemy fills him with imaginations and excuses and a deceived heart hath turned him aside Isa 44. 20. We should be exceeding careful about our Understanding to have it informed with true and right Thoughts If we may rightly apprehend the Dispensation of God's Kingdom and the Nature of things before us which pertain to us It is called the Mystery of the Kingdom and therefore we should Pray for the Spirit to search and unfold it to get it throughly known and revealed If we may use such a familiar comparison that as by the like Arts and Policy Men get a temporal Kingdom Preferment and Riches so we might endeavour after those things above Which is done by Knowledge Industry and a resolute putting forth The first instructs in the right way the others set a going and moving forwards We should first Pray and seek unto God That he would lead us forth by the right way that we may go to the City of Habitation Psal 107. 7. and so in all our Works and Labor in order thereto And then it may be observed how things are established and also to be
or rather Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise Isa 26. 19. But we shall only be removed into another Place or stand here again in these later Days upon the Earth when both our selves and this Place also shall be changed into a more glorious and abiding Condition That very Knowledge and Desire implanted into our Nature of more than is perceived or can be had here doth most clearly demonstrate that there are real things to which it doth relate It being so firmly riveted and grafted in doth plainly shew that it came from the Author of our Nature Even he who made us hath so ordained us who created the Flesh did also form the Spirit And as that is established to have a Sense of things sensible so this hath a Knowledge and Conception of things spiritual As that tastes and sees the things present so the Soul doth as evidently perceive and apprehend things to come And this would equally appear in all People if they did in like manner put forth the Powers of their Soul towards divine and heavenly things as the Instruments and Members of Body are employed about the things of the Earth Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord Hos 6. 3. First know somewhat of his infinite and glorious Godhead and then how he hath created and established things Also in our selves is implanted a Power and Capacity to arrive at the Knowledge of them It is superfluous to bring many Arguments to prove the things which are true and real already but yet because they are concealed and hidden by searching they may be found out when the Evidence of things not seen is brought forth it makes as if they were seen So we find in ordinary Cases that in a matter of Fact done heretofore or in a distant Place it is as nothing to us but when it is declared and told unto us by certain faithful Witnesses it is in a manner present and as if we saw it with our Eyes Thus it is of historical Matters and common things done in the World So it is likewise of God's wonderful Acts done in former Generations the Miracles and Signs wrought by Christ and his Apostles which are conveyed down unto us aâ—…er the same manner as publick Records which are either written or one Generation tells to another Now the first is the more certain Way because that remains when the Voice and Sound of the Mouth perishes in the Utterance and many times is forgotten There is the express Order of Almighty God Isa 30. 8. that these things be written Hence his Word is called Scripture that is a Writing and is so noted in a Book that it may be for the Time to come for ever and ever In which is a Declaration of God's Will unto Men what he doth require of them with a Rehearsal and Promises of what he hath already and will yet do for them Our selves know what we intend to do such a Time hereafter if we have Life Power the same Mind and Circumstances continue alike Now he is the Everliving Almighty God with whom is no Shadow of turning who sits above and hath the Disposal of all Times and Seasons who governs and hath Power over all things who knows all the Hearts of all the Sons of Men the utmost which is or can be Before whom all things past present and to come are the same So what he hath said shall most certainly be For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disannul it Isa 14. 27. I will work and who shall let it Isa 43. 13. However for a while Satan and his Instruments are suffered to resist and to try what they can to hinder yet the Work of God cannot be utterly overthrown for notwithstanding all the Malice and Opposition of Men or Devils it will come to pass at the last Hath he said and shall it not come to pass Yes assuredly For that that is determined shall be done Dan. 11. 36. For the Vision is yet for an appointed Time but at the End it shall speak and not lie Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry Hab. 2. 3. But in the mean while we are apt to stagger and distrust because we do not see it fulfilled in our Generations Whereas we are but of a short Time and to him a Thousand Years are but as one Day and he will have a suitable Space for fulfilling his great and glorious Work For even the lesser things are done gradually and in Succession of Time In this little Space and short Time we do not find all things to be so as we are told of yet nevertheless we are here so much ascertained of the less as to build up a sure Trust and Confidence for the greater And we shall be translated up thither where it shall be said As we have heard so have we seen Psal 48. 8. when Faith shall be turned into Vision the Substance of things not seen shall be the Remembrance how our God did promise and keep them out of Sight But now he doth perform the same and they are revealed with open Face Therefore were they ordered to be future and unseen to prove whether we would give Credence unto his Word If we would be diligent in the Work of the Lord expecting a Reward from him in his due Time But if his great and good things were now present before us and to be had as those things of this World now are what snatching and running would there be after them People would never think themselves too diligent and earnest They would make haste and not delay the Time to keep God's Commandments Had they a through and firm Perswasion of what he saith Every Man shall receive his own Reward according to his own Labour 1 Cor. 3. 8. Each Person would then try who shall most abound in the Work of the Lord. They would lay hold of every Opportunity for well-doing if they might partake of his Acceptation and Recompence They would call to mind what they had been heretofore a doing To what End or to what Good were all the past Actions they had taken under the Sun What am I at present better for having had or done this And is there Expectation of any thing more Will my heretofore serving divers Lusts and Pleasures make me happy now Wherefore then do they not satisfie at this Moment Why do they utterly vanish and disappear How comes it to pass that Day by Day they cease to delight and are less recreating Surely I have been mistaken all along It is Happiness and Satisfaction which I desire and they make a false Shew thereof It is Peace and Rest which I would endeavour at and they leave behind Craving and Trouble The sinful Profits of this World seem to be somewhat more enduring and real But let us reflect upon them either Way as Soul eat drink and be merry We will
now live is continually hastning towards its Period so we should at all times make Provision against this shall fail to be received up into the other that we may there continually partake of somewhat which we have done here Indeed the Fruits of the Earth do spring up and are ripe at such certain Seasons of the Year according to the Climate or Countrey but still the Husbandman hath some Employment all the Year round The Kingdom of God over the Souls of Men is not confined to Times and Seasons as in such an Age or Part of Life to such a Month or Day of the Year But this Work may be carrying on at all Times and Seasons The Word may be preached in Season and out of Season at Summer or VVinter Spring or Autumn Sabbath or VVeek-day in the Day-time or at Mid-night as they are journeying or sitting still in the Closet Family or Congregation Truth shall spring out of the Earth Psal 85. 11. at what time it shall please the Lord to open the Fountains of the great Depth And as the VVind bloweth when and where it listeth so he shall give his Spirit to search it out So again Righteousness shall look down from Heaven when the Lord shall pour down his Spirit from on high which as he hath done several Times already so it may acquaint us further of the things there He may instruct his Servants as those of old in what Disposition of Body and Soul they must be in for to receive it To get the foregoing Qualifications of Faith Knowledge Love of God Obedience Holiness Humility convenient Retirement and separating from their Brethren that they may the more approach unto God These things do not so much depend upon the outward Circumstances of set and definite Times of the Year but they come to pass at what Time pleaseth the Father and we receive the Grace and use the Means to be Partakers thereof Known unto God are the great things he will do for his Church for they are fixed in his eternal Purpose and Determination it is not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power Acts 1. 7. Perhaps the very Reason why these are not clearly revealed and manifested unto us is least in the mean while we should neglect our own Concern Our Minds might so run upon what things are to be done in the Generations following that we should leave undone what ought to be done in this Generation wherein we now live As the VVoman of Samaria saith When the Messias is come he will tell us all things John 8. 25. so we might be apt to apprehend it as to refuse to learn any thing in the mean while And when it is promised The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. VVe might content our selves with our former Ignorance and reject any further Knowledge and Instruction in the mean while Even those great things of old time have been transacted by outward Means and we ought still to use those Means which are in our Power to put them forth with all our Skill and Might and then let the Lord do what seemeth him good We know not at first what a Blessing and Success he may give unto them but we may somewhat perceive it afterwards Then things may rise up beyond our Expectations when in the Beginning we are apt to distrust and faint in our Mind Had our selves done nothing or after we had undertaken it then let it fall then it was our own Refusal that we were not Instruments in carrying on the Work of the Lord or he might take it from us and make choice of and give it unto others who should throughly perform his Will If the Way is shewed unto us and we are put in such a Capacity we have also an Impulse and Pressing of Mind to the same and the VVork is right and good as appears evidently from his VVord and the Examples of old there we may and indeed ought to walk in that VVay and actually do according to the Power given us and also comply with the Dictates of a rectified and truly informed Conscience If God may be glorified by such an Action and Good may be done unto others this should be indeed performed And seeing it should be done by some one why not by thee to whom he hath given the Knowledge thereof endued with Ability and is stirring thee up by his Spirit We may learn from Exodus 4. 10 11 12 13. that God is not pleased with Excuses or Delays or with alledging our own Imperfections for he made us at first and can also mend and increase what he hath begun He sent forth further Strength and Ability according as the thing requires The stammering Lips may at length speak plain as in the Beginning of Speech The Voice which was hasty and confused may become clear and distinct And who acquaints at first in general with the Errand that he should go to such a Place and do such a thing will afterwards according to his own divine Method in Acts 9. 6. teach particularly what he shall say And put the very Words into our Mouth a little before or in the very same Hour Mat. 10. 19. just as they are to be uttered forth Remembring still that we are but Instruments in the Hands of God We are to receive the Thoughts he puts into our Heart and to speak them out with our Lips but we can say no more nor think of pertaining to him than what he suggests and puts into our Mind We are to execute what he puts into the Power of our Hands but we can do no more Our God doth not require more than he hath given Those Talents are to be exercised and traded withal which he hath committed unto us but he will never call us to Account for more than we have received So we are to use Diligence and Labour according to what we can In the first Place we should pray unto God O learn me true Vnderstanding and Knowledge that I may keep thy Commandments Now these are either things to be abstained from or things to be done The first are properly Prohibitions or Forbiddings but the Word Commandment imports Duty which is to be done That must be discerned and known before it can be begun and because there may be Hindrances and Oppositions those also are to be seen and overcome that it may be accomplished In the Way to Heaven there are many Turnings aside which we are to be acquainted withal and avoid that we may keep on still in the right Way for if we go out there is so much Time and Labour lost to no purpose which might have set so far on The best Use hereof is to be more careful for the future to keep on right In every worldly Business and Design there are such foregoing Means And if they do at first hit upon those which are
hitherto hidden from some because they would not search the Scriptures for there they might have found it so and accordingly have prepared to have given up their Accounts The good may be hence quickned to do more to take hold of every Opportunity to lay up a greater Foundation against the Time to come to seek and do the Work of the Lord diligently and to improve every Talent to the utmost And the evil might presently have ceased to do wickedly turn and be more zealous in the other Way Faith apprehends so of things future as Memory and Recollection is to the past Herein appears the Excellency of the Understanding and reasonable Soul that she sees things afar off and remembers those behind But those things here are scarce worth our Remembrance but what things we are further told of they are all Wonder and Astonishment because they are so exceeding great and enduring Which will fill the Soul though opened wide and to the utmost and satisfie every Wish and Desire and these things are always to remain When these things shall be present before us we shall admire and be vexed within our selves that we did not more towards the obtaining them Even thus it will be of those who considered and did most that usually Men do Our Fathers received the Promises and saw them afar off they now stand more abundantly confirmed unto us being so indubitably made known that we are more fully perswaded of them and do embrace them So the Exhortation runs yet more forcible to cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God and to do all things that we may be found accepted of him at the last Day Even thus much we may discern at present that the Lord sitteth above all his Creatures He hath revealed how we the Inhabitants of the Earth are to behave our selves towards him He hath prepared his Seat for Judgment and his Kingdom ruleth over all neither is any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight But all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do We cannot know him as he knoweth us for he seeth us and all our Ways clearly but we now see thro' a Glass darkly And as we are mere Creatures who have nothing but what we have received so we know nothing but what he first made known and revealed unto us Our Saviour abode on the Earth Forty Days after his Passion on the Cross and Resurrection from the Grave speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Acts 1. 3. very few of which are recorded And though many things are written which he made known in the Course of his Ministry yet the beloved Disciple John saith Many other things truly did Jesus in the Presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book John 20. 30. So before his coming into the World God discovered his Will by Prophets and holy Men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And there have been since further Manifestations of divine Knowledge and Truth And yet still the Skies will be more opened and Righteousness shall be poured down Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness Let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it Isa 45. 8. He shall come down like Rain upon the mowen Grass as Showers that water the Earth Psal 72. 6. Truth shall spring out of the Eorth Psal 85. 11. Both as to the Element it self and also as to the Inhabitants thereof Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Then shall the Earth yield her Increase and God even our own God shall bless us Psal 67. 5 6. He shall make known those Arts and Means that the Earth shall yield her Increase so abundantly that there shall be no hungry and empty Soul but there shall be more than sufficient for every Creature whatever He shall give such a plentiful Fleece on the Sheep and may discover those other Ways for cloathing as to cover all the naked in our Land Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-House that there may be Meat in mine House and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts If I will not open the Windows of Heaven and pour ye out a Blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3. 10. Mankind hath been hitherto proved wihther they will obey and trust in their God The poor hath been a long while suffered among them to see whether they will will provide for and do them good and they have not yet been so obedient and trusted unto him as they should But let them once do so let all the People praise him and then prove him whether he will not do those great things for us Whether he will not deal yet more bountifully even in those things for the sake of which People now transgress against him The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof Psal 24. 1. The Silver is mine and the Gold is mine saith the Lord of Hosts Hag. 2. 8. so he can disclose it whensoever he will perhaps more than hath been yet seen and talked of And I will give thee the Treasures of Darkness and hidden Riches of secret Places Isa 45. 3. He can shew us where are the several rich Mines and some way bring to our Knowledge whatever Worth and Excellency lies hid at present in the Bowels of the Earth So there may be sufficient yea and abundance for all And there may be such exceeding Plenty even of the formerly beloved Mammon that they shall even loath and not esteem it because there is no such intrinsick Goodness in it as was supposed And things will be as readily done without as heretofore they were greedy and eager after it The Nature and End of every thing relating to us shall be perfectly understood and how they conduce to our real Good and Happiness As things shall be fully made known which tend to the Use Well-being and Delight of the Body so the same will be discerned concerning the Soul The hidden Man of the Heart will come forth and as that even now doth clearly appear in the Sight of God so it will be yet more manifested to our View that we may also know what is in Man as we see his outward Face The Thoughts of many Hearts shall be revealed so we may as evidently perceive them as we behold the working of their Hands or their goings up and down upon bodily Feet The Lord saith behold all Souls are mine Ezek. 18. 4. He challengeth a peculiar Property in them and yet he hath sent forth a peremptory Decree The Soul that sinneth it shall die The Soul hath a Knowledge of this which cannot be shaken off so imprinted that though it may be somewhat defaced yet it cannot be worn out The Desire and Tendency
The Adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in Pieces 1 Sam. 2. 8. Strength may sometimes prevail against the Son of Man who is weak as we are but yet many times a wise Submission will do more But neither Strength nor yet further Provocation shall in the least prevail against God when true Repentance will always avail and stand in stead Remarkable is that Counsel of our Lord and Saviour And I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath Power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12. 4 5. The utmost of Mens Malice and Cruelty extends only to this short Time and to this weak Flesh and they use it accordingly in this their Hour and Power of Darkness Whereas God suffers Acts 13. 18. Mens evil Deeds here in the Body but when they are dislodged from that he calls them to Judgment and Account and he hath the Length of a whole Eternity for to inflict Vengeance both on Body and Soul for the same Even here we perceive that at the first time of suffering or when it is short Men may bear up and not sink under it but it is not so of a long and continued Misery But what our God hath threatned is such that if the wicked were Brass and Iron it would make them submit and yield much more will it Flesh and Bone Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong in the Days that I shall deal with thee I the Lord have spoken it and I will do it Ezek. 22. 14. There is none who doth not sometimes labour under Sorrow and Vexation of Thought much more must they groan under the Worm which shall never die and they can no way be freed from the Sense and Feeling thereof Surely the Wrath of Man shall praise thee the Remainder of Wrath shalt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. God first endued him with Power to rage and to be furious to that Degree he now is and as before he did not ordain it further so even now he can curb what he hath made He will shorten and make it quite to cease When their Rage is against him he will put an Hook in their Jaws and lead them till they shall torment even till they shall quite weary themselves There is no good to be done that way Hear then what the Psalmist saith next Vow and pay unto the Lord your God Let all that be round about him bring Presents unto him that ought to be feared Vers 11. Submit and be obedient unto him have a good Mind and shew all the good will towards him which you can now you are a little while in the Way Draw near and be reconciled ye who were sometimes afar off and averse towards him Let all that former Aversation be done away and come to the Throne of Grace with Reverence and Godly Fear Look diligently lest any Root of Bitterness springing up trouble you Lest there be any Remainder of that which was heretofore in you Cut it off Root and Branch for it doth wholly spring up from your Sin and Ignorance God is good and the same still from everlasting to everlasting Neither doth he alter or change with our several Apprehensions or Assertions concerning him But by our Sin and Iniquity we made him our Enemy The Consciousness whereof did raise a slavish Fear and Dread The less we did know of him the less we did discover of his Goodness and Love towards the Children of Men As again the more we know of him the more that doth appear forth unto us When we seek diligently and come yet more near unto God we do as really perceive Goodness Mercy Love Peace and Joy to flow from him all one as Vertue did proceed forth from the Garment of Christ and all one as we perceive the Heat of the Fire when we make towards it or when we go abroad in a bright shining Day to see the Light of the Sun If Man were verily perswaded of thus much at first he would never depart and go astray from his Maker as when he is truly informed and throughly satisfied hereof He would instantly return unto him For who is he that desires not Good and Happiness and would not willingly at first go the ready way to it Indeed with the shew and appearance thereof he is presently turned aside to transgression and the pleasures of Sin But then it is not long before he finds by sensible experience the vanity and vexation thereof at present and he is further forewarned of Destruction and Misery And then he may alter his steps into the way of Peace and Comfort which leads unto and ends in Glory and Happiness We may taste and see that the Lord is gracious for we do evidently feel and behold with our Eyes that thus it is now at this present time as to what he doth require of us and as to what he hath forbidden And so his promises and threatnings of what are further consequent to the same are confirmed by the Word and Oath of him for whom it is impossible to lie Those who are enlightened do clearly discern all this and they who come to true Repentance when they have set aside all prejudice and carnality and are throughly separated from the perversities of the Spirit When they come to themselves Luke 15. 17. and are such as Men should be They do likewise judge that it is so as here spoken of for it is evident to their real Sense and Disposition Who have experience both of the Way of the Lord and also of the Way of Sin and Satan They do affirm that the first is better The Temptation wherewith Men are drawn over to Irreligion and Ungodliness is that it hath a shew of Liberty and Briskness As again to such the knowledge and fear of the Lord doth seem a confinement and dulness and therefore they refuse and cast it off But this is a most grievous Sin and Provocation to turn Rebel against their God It is monstrous and unnatural to forget God that formed them and all things It is most detestable impiety and the utmost ill-deserving to live in no sense of and subjection unto the Governour of the World This is infinitely worse and more inexcusable than for Subjects to rise up in Arms against a good and lawful Prince for Children to be Rebellious and Froward to a kind good just and wise Father or as is any Action of the most ungrateful Servant against the best of Masters Yet all this proceeds from want of a right knewledge of God and of a true Understanding what his Fear is I speak this to shew the Shame and Degeneracy of Mankind Even those must have their Thoughts altered concerning God and lifted up towards him or he will raise them up to Shame and everlasting
saith in Zeph. 2. concerning Nineveh That when she shall be desolate and uninhabited then People shall reflect and look back upon what hath brought this Judgment on her And so when the World comes to be punished for their Evil and Iniquity then they shall call to remembrance and consider what brought all this Misery upon them But then it is too late and to no Purpose but to aggravate their own Folly and to torment them yet more And so contrariwise It would have been well with them if they had done after this and that Manner Why you were told and warned of as much by the Word of God for whom it was impossible to lie So that they might even then have been assured it would as certainly be as now they find it present upon them It was necessary to be told of it before because they might have done some things for which they should have been worthy to escape Luke 21. 36. and also obtain Good for which they did labour and endure the foregoing Conditions should be performed they should be in the mean while rendred meet which the same God did press unto by the same Word and Truth which spoke beforehand of these things People are apt to stumble and be blinded at the Doings of God Our Fathers understood not thy Wonders in Egypt Psal 106. 7. till after they were over And so it was of their Dealings towards his Servants the Prophets whom they did persecute unto Death and afterwards they acknowledged them to have been faithful Messengers sent from God So whilst the Messias lived and dwelt amongst Men they doubted whether it was he But after they had crucified and put him to Death then they understood it Now when the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the Earthquake and those things that were done they feared greatly saying truly this was the Son of God Mat. 27. 54. Now Jesus did in his Lifetime both by his Doctrine and Miracles manifest sufficiently before the Jews that he was the holy one sent from God No Man can do those Miracles that thou dost except God be in him John 3. 2. The Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same Works that I do bear Witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 7. 36. And so they were amazed at his Doctrine for it was with Power and he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes It was sublime and divine and and so they might even then be convinced and apprehend it Those many great and wonderful things done throughout the whole Course of his Ministry were as evident a Demonstration of his being the Son of God as what appeared afterwards And when they did oppose him continually from Time to Time and still they were more and more convinced of his Truth and Divinity yet still to go on and to the utmost Pitch of their Malice and Rage as to kill the Body And when the whole Time of Trial is over then to acknowledge that they were in a Fault and would not have done it to pretend Ignorance for an Excuse or Mitigation of their Sin when it was either willing Ignorance or a false Plea God who knoweth the Hearts will judge of all this Our Saviour notably confutes such gross Hipocrites and Dissemblers Mat. 23. 29 30 31 32. Who say if we had been in the Days of our Fathers we would not have been Partakers with them in the Blood of the Prophets when at that very Time they did the same against Christ whom the most moderate Fame did say he was one of the Prophets risen again but others Christ and others Elias as their Fathers did against the Prophets And so it was clearly manifested that themselves did not only allow the Deeds of their Fathers but themselves at that Instant did the same And as they were Witnesses against themselves that they were Children of them which killed the Prophets so they did afterwards fill up the Measure of their Fathers for they proceeded and did kill him also of whom God spake to Moses I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee Deut. 18. 18. who was more than all the Prophets or the Angels yea the very Christ the anointed one of God This is the Abomination of Hypocrisie that when they do wickedly against God they would justifie themselves before Men and make a Shew as if they had not sinned nor done corruptly They would first hide their Sin as Adam but if it is known as publick Acts are then they would put a Colour and Pretext to it But what are your Sins to us or what are we that ye should plead with or extenuate your selves before Your Sins are against the Lord and he is the Judge himself Oh let the Wickedness of the Wicked came to an End but establish the Just For the righteous God trieth the Hearts and Reins Psal 7. 9. He observes the several Steps and Gradations thereof He sees how far it will go And it may be that is one Reason why he suffers it to proceed so far that the Folly thereof may be more manifest that Sin may appear to be exceeding sinful that when he comes to dissect and lay it open with his eternal Truth we may see the infinite Guilt and Aggravation thereof Like a putrifying Sore which the longer it is let alone the worse it grows If God should arise in his Anger and lift up himself Evil and Transgression could never have proceeded so far as now it hath done If God had spread out his Light universally to reprove the Deeds of Mankind there had not been so much Sin and Ungodliness If his Truth were clearly universally and fully made known it would prevent a great deal of Sin and Errour Neither then had all Flesh corrupted its Way upon Earth as now it hath done But there hath been the Hour of the wicked and the Power of Darkness Luke 22. 53. In which things have been suffered so to be That Hour draws towards its End and the Light doth begin to shine Then also Sin and Iniquity will have its Period It will make an End of Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteousness For he will finish the Work and cut it short in Righteousness because a short Work will the Lord make upon the Earth Rom. 9. 28. What hath been some Thousand Years in Agitation and Continuance may be brought to an utter End within the Compass of a Year or less Even as we see that he who hath been a Sinner all his Life long is converted in an Hour or a Minute By one full and clear Conviction of the exceeding Evil and Danger of Sin he may be induced and brought over imediately to forsake it If we were throughly made sensible of the infinite Goodness and Glory of God and how he is dishonoured by the breaking of his Law this alone Consideration should move any one who hath the common Sense
thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea which mounts up and ascends on high So it is here said in the following Verse of this Psalm last quoted I will praise thee with Vprightness of Heart when I shall have learned thy righteous Judgments Both which are given to signifie and from hence we may learn that the Happiness of God's chosen doth not only consist in a perfect Peace and true Satisfaction of Mind tho' these are things very desirable and beyond what the World gives But it breaks forth into Singing and Joy unspeakable full of Glory That I may see the Good of thy chosen that I may rejoyce in the Gladness of thy Nation Psal 106. 5. Here are ascending Steps one after another There is not only a Freedom from Evil and Misery nor yet only a Stayedness and full Content of Mind but it hath further Delight and Refreshment and also can express it self forth as others shew forth outward Signes of Rejoycing So that when the World shall be perfectly obedient and what is consequent to that reconciled unto God when his People shall be all righteous Isa 60. 21. and each Man and Woman throughout the Earth observe all Parts and every least Tittle of their Duty to God they shall not be dull nor yet in deep Silence But they shall be more merry talkative and pleasant in speaking of and praising God for his wonderful works than now they are or have ever yet been about other things Their Heart shall rejoyce as through Wine their Heart shall rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. which will very much exceed the Mirth of Tabret or Harp or the Joy of Feasts Their Talking shall be of God's Doings declaring his Truth and singing forth the Praises of the Lord In which they shall find more Variety yea and agreeable Satisfaction than heretofore in spending their Time in hearing or telling of some new thing some little Novelty idle Story or foolish Jesting They shall more rejoyce in the several Parts of Duty than formerly in the Pleasures of Sin for a Season All the Briskness and pretended Merriment of that compared with the Joy and Exstacy of God's Chosen shall be darkened and exceeded as the Light of the Moon is by that of the Sun or as the small and faint burning of a Candle is to the Lights of Heaven The seeming Activity of Souldiers and men of Valour all that Shew of Briskness Renown and Courage whereby in Times past the Abaddon and Destroyer hath stirred up Thousands to butcher and kill one another shall be infinitely exceeded by the Lord of Hosts and by his Army of Saints according to what is written They shall run like mighty Men They shall climb the Wall like Men of War and they shall march every one on his Ways and they shall not break their Ranks They shall run to and fro in the City they shall run upon the Walls they shall climb up upon the Houses They shall enter in at the Windows like a Thief and the Lord shall utter his Voice before his Army for his Camp is very great for he is strong that executeth his Word for the Day of the Lord is great and very terrible and who can abide it Joel 2. 7 9 11. Their Speed Resolution and Order shall as much exceed that of the most excellent and victorious Army which was ever heard of since the VVorld began as they do a Flock or Herd of Sheep God is glorified by Action when the Powers which he hath given are exerted and then he will give yet more when little Creatures do great things when what before lay hid is put forth Thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power Psal 110. 3. The Lord himself shall again awake as one out of Sleep and like a Giant refreshed with VVine As he endues every thing that hath Life and Breath with Powers of Action or Motion so himself will cause that that it be manifested forth he will subdue his Enemies in the hindermost Parts and put them to a perpetual Shame Those tormenting Passions shall be stretched out and come sorth in the VVicked So again the delighting Affections shall be stirred up in the Good and vent forth in the utmost Gladness and Pleasure Thou shalt increase my Greatness and comfort me on every Side I will also praise thee with the Psaltery even thy Truth O my God unto thee will I sing with the Harp O Thou holy One of Israel My Lips shall greatly rejoyce when I sing unto thee and my Soul which thou hast redeemed Psal 71. 21 22 23. Here in this VVorld of Opposition Sin and Temptation we do meet with great and sore Troubles but when once those are done away there will succed a more than proportionable Degree of Joy and Consolation This is figured by that Phrase so usual in the Prophets of Joy in the Harvest It is but a faint and imperfect Comparison to set forth the Transports and Extasies which shall be of God's People As a Bridegroom rejoyceth over his Bride so shall the Lord rejoyce oves his People and they reciprocally shall joy in the God of their Salvation who were formerly possessed with Horrour and Dread they do at length arrive at Reverence and Good-will and then their Souls do greatly rejoyce in God and he doth put Gladness into their Hearts more than can be expressed by Corn and Wine or any worldly thing When we do sincerely and actually endeavour to be holy as he that hath called us is holy then he is perfectly reconciled unto us Notwithstanding his infinite Greatness he doth humble himself to become familiar to our Nature All former Averseness and Enmity are vanished away And we being fully resolved to keep his Commandments at all Times and that our Lord shall guide us continually he doth according to his gracious Promise keep him in perfect Peace whose Mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth on thee We may see and perceive a tittle Representation hereof in the Communion of Saints here on Earth who when they are obedient and like-minded do find exceeding Joy and Sweetness with one another as they talk of and derive it down from the God above The like will be much more in the Times of universal Reformation when the whole Earth shall be at Rest and Quiet it shall break forth into Singing Isa 14. 7. the one before the other The Pleasures of Sin or the Laughter of the World are not so much to that as sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbal compared with the best Musick All carnal Joy is now sudden mix'd and unsatisfying But what comes down from the Father of Spirits or arises from doing his Will that doth remain and is sincere gives a blessed Expectation till we awake after his Likeness and are satisfied with it The Joy is suitable with our imperfect Condition here it increases as we grow up towards Perfection and is in us a Well of Water springing up unto eternal
attain unto the Resurrection of the Dead And then we should not so much Article for Happiness or Misery in the mean while if we did look out to this vast and enduring State Lord Jesus give me a Portion and Interest in That and dispose of all other things with me as thou pleasest in the mean while Nothing here can be properly called Happiness or Misery for it may be rather termed a transient Delight or small Vexation which as the shadow upon the top or surface of the Earth presently hasteth by it may slightly affect the Imagination or uppermost Thought but it should not reach nor descend into the depth of the Heart for that should take Thought of greater Things than what are to be had here Or rather consider the Disposal and Establishment of them and so likewise use them in subordination to things to come Even according to the Law and Direction of the Most High God and by observing the Commandments and Sayings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Good God! what abundant Exhortation is there to this How many Repetitions Inculcations and Inforcements must there be only to do what a Subject doth readily for his Prince a Child for his Parent and a Servant for his Master Is not God and his Son Jesus Christ greater and better to us than any of these Relations Shall we not get as much by his Service as by theirs Are not his Promises as sure And doth not his Reward extend further Is not his Work as excellent And the things he hath said as good and fit to be done Yea they are more agreeable and reasonable than any thing we now do in this World His Commandments are not grievous but such as may be performed and there is a greater Benefit annexed to the doing of them than is to be had in the most generous and highly esteemed Actions according to the World For besides many other Disadvantages whatever is done here in order to the things here is certainly and evidently determined within this short Time but for those who shall do the Will of God it is not yet known what their Recompence shall be It is higher than the Heavens and reaches even to the Length of Eternity It is revealed unto us in great and marvellous Words ' sufficient to raise our utmost Affection Desire and Endeavour But we are further assured from Isa 64. 4. that it is yet more than we can now expect or conceive For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels and then he shall reward every Man according to his Works Mat. 16. 27. This is told us before that we may prepare and fit our Works accordingly that we may have a greater Measure and of the best Sort of Works so we may know what we have to do and also be diligent in the Exercise thereof First not to spend our Money for that which is not Bread nor yet our Labour for that which satisfieth not Not to be only or principally busied about vain and perishing Things which it is impossible they should content or make happy for they do not remain To draw off from the things of this World and to employ our Care and Labour about the things to come And then we are to search the Scriptures that we may understand rightly how we may have eternal Life and put in through God's gracious Promises for the different Degrees of Glory even according as we have more or less abounded in the Work of the Lord so that we should not be so much concerned how much Happiness we shall have in this mean while or what Misery we are liable unto but still give heed and take care for that which is to come As the future Life succeeds and is annexed to this present Life so we should not think of one without the other For that is the general Fault and Mistake that we are so sunk and confined within this Life that we have no constant Regard to that Life which is to come We do wholly consult for the present to the Neglect and Unmindfulness of the future Whereas if Consideration be taken of both together then we shall manage things rightly And when there is any Contrariety and Competition between them there always Preference ought to be had to the greater for more Concern ought to be had for a Year than for a Minute only The Disproportion is much more in all the several Instances between the things of this Life and the other Albeit they are now at this present Time had or seen And the others are future to be expected and beleived But yet these things shall be past and utterly done away when the others shall ever remain It is evident we must all be taken away from the things of this World and then the whole Action and Business of our Life will seem and signifie no more than of the past Time already as to which how that is we can conceive in our Mind But then comes Judgment when those Thoughts Words and Actions which are over and almost forgotten shall come to be examined and Distribution shall be made accordingly Then the Disguizes and contrary Appearances of things shall be pulled off and they shall be seen and underâ—…ood in their true Nature What do contribute to our Welfare and what do tend to our Hurt and this is to be measured not according to false Thought or wrong Apprehension but from the very Reality and Event of things And again Judgment is to be made not so much from the â—…d seeming contrary or middle Issue but from the utmost and last End of things for Satan may at first endeavour to defeat but he can never overthrow it so he may try to turn it into Harm and Inconvenience but yet cannot possibly hinder so far that it shall not do us good at the latter End The Purpose of God stand firm and he will certainly bring it to pass though in the mean while through the Wiles and Opposition of Satan some things may seem to let and hinder And they may at first seem to bring the contrary to what they shall end in at the last When God promises I will deliver him and Honour him with long Life will I satisfie him and shew him my Salvation Psal 91. 15 16. He may at first seem to be delivered over to the Will of his Enemies and be overwhelmed with Shame He may do those things which in common Probability will endanger and shorten his Life and to be esteemed smitten of God and forsaken so that he hath not then so full and clear a Discovery of the divine Will and Counsel Now if we had Faith Knowledge and Patience as to believe discern and quietly expect as much then we might easily in the mean while submit to Hardship Inconvenience and Disappointment knowing assuredly that that there will be an expected End And by this doing we shall lay in more Stock and Foundation for our real
Life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink is not the Life more than Meat aod so in V. 32. it is inculcated for after all these things do the Gentiles seek They know nothing more no do they discern much more in Life than Meat Drink and Raiment just to receive and use these things and rise up to play But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness for that is more and of longer Concern and this Life and the things thereof is only in order to that A Space only to prove and see whether we will therein seek after Immortality and Glory Sufficient unto the Day is the Evil thereof It brings more Evil than Good so it is not desirable to live only for living sake but to do the Work which the Lord hath sent us here to do And yet such is the false and contrary Practice of Worldlings that they are more concerned hew it goes with this Moment and Inch of Time than how it shall be with them throughout the whole Length of Eternity They are wonderfully careful and afraid of losing a little Good and suffering some small Evil at the present Time then they are fearful least they come short of the true and enduring Blessedness and least they fall into the Damnation of Hell What means that greedy and earnest catching at all the Pleasure or Profit that can be had and running away from all manner of Evil without regard to the Means whether they be sinful or not This is no Consideration or at least no Hindrance to the doing as they list Like natural Brute Beasts they are only mindful of what is just before them but regardless of what is to succeed They act perversely and go just contrary to the Command and Counsel of our Lord and Saviour for they take thought for to morrow and think themselves never sufficiently diligent in making Preparation for the Residue of this Life and how it shall go with them in the few remaining Days but they do not stretch their Care ond Provision further not giving Heed to be received up into the heavenly Kingdom when all these things shall fail Nor do they learn and practise the Righteousness thereof which would stand in stead Whereas Meat Drink and Raiment are for the Body but this Body shall at length drop from them and they shall have no need thereof One would admire how it comes to pass that so much Time and Labour are spent about the things of this Life as usually is When the Meat and Drink are soon received and the Raiment is quickly put on So that there is Time to spare to mind other things but they do as it were procrastinate and lengthen it out of set Purpose They seek out for superfluous and more than necessary things and hope to have this for an Excuse for not minding the one thing needful Nay who have those outward things without their own Care and Labour and have them brought to their Hand yet these do rather consume their precious Time in Sloth or sinful Pleasures or hungry Recreations or vain things But they are not employed in the Work of the Lord nor do they seek after the Pleasures of his House nor yet do they contemplate and seek to get an Interest in the Substance of the things hoped for which only are true and enduring They have some Fancy or seeming Reason for their present Manner of Life It hath a Shew of Pleasure Ease and Quietness but the Christian Course seems to them to meet with Opposition Trouble Hardship and Disturbance Whereas the former sensibly comes to nothing and to the other is promised a great Reward and an exceeding Weight of Glory But even now the idle or sinful Life is vexatious or tiresome It is accompanied with Restlesness and Dissatisfaction for the Mind of Man covets after something more and also hath Regret when he is not conversant about what he ought The Mind soars up above these lower things and though kept down or turned aside thro' the Policy and Deceivableness of Satan yet it is with Pain and Displeasure Those many silent Thoughts and Upbraidings of Spirit that self-Indignation the continual Fear and Doubt of Mind as often as it considers of God above or casts a Glimpse towards Eternity and future Life there is Horror and strange Amazement Every one nay the Worst Sinner or prophane Person doth sometimes think of these things And even who is most sunk into Earthliness or Ignorance his Life is continual Weariness and Vexation And they are willingly more cumbred with the things of this Life They do of set Purpose give way to it and consume the greater Part of their Time herein Because worldly Business is a Diversion from that Sorrow and Fear of Soul which they would otherwise labour under If we could bring out the several Things and Passages of their Life we should discover the manifold Misery of Ungodliness and Disobedience even at this present Time besides the Wrath of God which is now revealed from Heaven and shall be executed upon the Guilty when the Lord cometh with Ten Thousand of his Saints But on the other Hand in the several Steps of the Christian Warfare there is Contentedness Peace Hope and Assurance It hath the Strength and Comfort of God at present and also Application of the Promises which shall be made good and fulfilled hereafter The utmost that can be done in this vain Life which passeth away as a Shadow is but little and if we can possibly do any thing for which we may have the Acceptance of our God and obtain Good at the latter End it it is highly worth our greatest Pains and Labour At is is better to have it hereafter than now at present for as hath been heretofore often observed every thing had now doth pass away but what is to be revealed hereafter doth ever remain Certainly they have the best Portion and make the wisest Choice who are for the greater and more durable things who let the Shadow pass by but make sure of the Substance who are contented to foregoe some things which may endanger or lessen from their heavenly Inheritance Nay if it be strictly and properly considered there is no great Loss or Suffering in this for though the Means may be somewhat diminished or taken away yet our God through his gracious and and bountiful Nature by his wonderful and over-ruling Providence doth supply what is wanting and he doth nevertheless give the thing it self for which the others are esteemed necessary and sought after Such things are desired in order to Contentment and present Happiness and again we decline others lest they should bring on Evil and Misery Now God who maketh all things to work together for Good to them that love and fear him can and also doth give the same Contentment without them and also takes away or softens the pain when the nature of such a thing would inflict it And further When we
known unto God and we are to wait his good Pleasure what he will do yet further for his Creatures He gives us all things richly and sufficiently to enjoy and hinders from nothing which is really Good and Profitable for us Nay Lust and Coveting is but an Extravagant and Unreasonable Desire for we had enough before and whatever is more is Evil. If we did instance in the several kinds of Sin with the way how they did prevail over Man we should find that it did proceed from a wrong and false Imagination of more Good than really is therein and they make a shew of Happiness which they do not perform All those Works of the Flesh recited in Gal. 5. 19 20 21. carry with them a little Pleasure seeming Good and Advantage which are thought necessary to make Man Happy So Covetousness with its several kinds of Injustice and Wrong do promise Gain and Profit which likewise are supposed to contribute unto the same end The like may be observed of Pride and Vain Glory and all other kinds of Evil they come in to Please and Gratifie or they are some ways esteemed convenient Now Happiness is the End and more than all these put together but they are ignorantly and falsly judged as several parts to constitute unto the whole and that each doth conduce somewhat toward it Herein may be perceived the Usefulness and Excellency of a right and thorough Knowledge for that apprehends the same thing before which the Man is fully convinced of afterwards by Practice and Experience If he comes to Repentance otherwise he is Damned and Miserable This includes hearty Sorrow and Shame for what is past and a real unfeigned Resolution to do so no more Seeing he now knows it to be as it is he doth really and sincerely wish that he had never done it and he is fully resolved not to do so any more It is truly said a Wise Man should never do any thing to repent of it for he should know before-hand what would be the evil Consequent of such a thing and this should oblige him at first to refrain and not to do it Now all of us should first look up and have respect unto God above and consider how that we are Creatures under him and we should obey him and keep his Commandments which extend unto all that we have here to do in this World And we may thus judge either this is reasonable and fit to be done or it is not No Man dare or will deny that God is to be obeyed and that presently and at all Times Neither can they gainsay but that his Commandments are Holy Just and Good which if a Man do he shall even live by them They are suitable unto and preserve our Nature and lead up unto Eternal Life and Blessedness Now this may be discerned at first as well as at last And so he may conclude it both reasonable and make it his actual determined Choice to observe them I have Sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy Righteous Judgments Psal 119. 106. And if this be done at first there is no need of Repentance It is certainly better to Sin not than to have sinned for otherwise those many Commands Cautions and Directions in Scripture of abstaining from all appearance of Evil would not have been for our Good So he is in the more Happy Condition who hath kept himself Innocent all along according to the Tenor of Gospel Righteousness who never did continue in Sin and therefore cannot so properly turn from or repent of it This is the thing which God requires of Man is well pleased with him now and will reward him hereafter That he should be enlightned and fully apprehend God's ways and also walk in them That he should make his word the constant Rule of his Actions to do thus because of such a Commandment or Direction and again to refrain from that which is either Forbidden or Doubtful or doth no ways tend to God's Glory In whatever he takes in hand to have a secret Respect unto God's Statutes according to which he will live and act and suffer that the Lord shall guide him continually and then be sure to follow his Guidance If the Man is indeed perswaded that it is better for him thus to do he will also sincerely endeavour to do thereafter for there are so many things which â—urge to this that whoso considers must act accordingly In the several times of Trial and Deliberation he might thus Reason within himself which is better and safer to be done Had I not better wait on and seek after the Lord than let it alone If I should neglect at this Moment shall I not hereafter wish that I had not neglected Will not an Hour and so of the residue of my Time spent in the Service of God turn to better account than if the same had been lavished away in Sloath or Neglect impertinent Business or Vain Pleasures or in hungry Recreations And so would it not be better accepted with God if I were governed by his Commandments than if I did walk after mine own Thoughts according to mine own Stubborn Will or Vain Humour All that we have already is from God and therefore Thankfulness doth oblige to as much and what we expect further is from him and then Hope and a due Preparation for our selves do forcibly exhort to Duty We are now in an imperfect and wanting Condition which desires for what is Perfect and Compleat and of whom should we seek for this but of the God who made us he also hath promised that he will perfect that which concerneth us Thy Mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the Works of thine own hands Psal 138. 8. What did move him at first to Create the same doth continue and will engage to add yet more until he hath finished the Work in Perfection and Happiness But he will be sought unto and also we must endeavour to please him before he grant this thing The Lord is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him Lam. 3. 25. All the things of this World cannot make a Man Happy for they are not satisfactory nor yet enduring The first would be more perceived if Men were not after the manner of Beasts transformed into Sloth and Stupidity or sunk into gross Darkness and Ignorance The latter is sensibly felt by every one Neither the Pleasures of Sin nor Profits of Transgression nor the seeming Ease or Conveniency of Irreligion and Ungodliness not each singly nor yet all put together can give the true Happiness therein is esteemed more Good than really is and if it were not so much as imagined yet even that could not render satisfied and truly Blessed Nay contrariwise Destruction and Misery are in their ways and the way of Peace they have not known It is a Deviation and Wandring from the way of Salvation and Happiness It may for a while promise
above I am contented to act or suffer any thing so I may be received up into Abraham's Bosom And he saw that Rest was good and the Land that it was pleasant Gen. 49. 15. Seeing that there is such an exceeding Good set before us shew us any way that we may come at it What shall I do to be Saved I am for looking out whether there is any thing more And I am still for giving Diligence how I may make my Calling and Election more sure for such an infinite and eternal Good cannot possibly be made too sure of and this should stir up all Labour Earnestness and Care till we be actually invested therewith Be Sober be Vigilant for your Adversary the Devil walketh about seeking whom he may devour He watcheth for an Opportunity to turn you aside and if possible to deprive you of your Acceptation and Reward but however of such a part and degree thereof that you may lose somewhat of the Things you have wrought 2 John 8. and so you miss of that fullness of Reward which otherwise you might have been a partaker thereof And therefore know and make void his Devices that you may be nothing hindred or deceived by him There is that in the Christian Life which will exercise all our Time and Labour As Servants are employed all the day in the Work of their Master and as a Maid doth continually attend upon the Business of her Mistress so we are to wait on the Lord all the day Psal 25. 5. and to be in the fear of the Lord all the day long Prov. 23. 17. When the Child Jesus was carefully sought by his Parents according to the Flesh he replies to their Admiration Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business Luke 2. 49. and in another place he saith I have Meat to eat that ye know not of John 4. 32. And when they understood not the Saying he explains it My Meat is to do the Will of him that sent me and to finish his Work Verse 34. So likewise as we have him for our Lord we are to obey his Will and as we have him for our Example we are to do as he did as he laid the Foundation so we are to build thereon As Jesus Christ himself doth say in reference to him who is the Great Lord over all My God and your God My Father and your Father So likewise he hath committed to every one of us as Servants and Children some work to do for the Glory of our Master and Father which is in Heaven The great King hath committed to every one of us some Gifts and Talents to be occupied in the mean while till he shall come to require an Account Obedience to his Laws and Improvement of our Grace and Knowledge to the utmost Advantage will take up what Time and Leisure we have here if it were more than reaâ—ly it is To keep the Heart with all Diligence To receive all God's Words into it To have them appear forth and be sensible that the Man may always do accordingly To bring them forth for the Edifying and Instruction of others To grow in Grace and Knowledge till the Man of God is throughly furnished for every Good Word and Work and many other things of like nature will take up that space here on Earth which is lent unto Man to understand and seek after his God And the time thus expended will turn to better account than any thing which can be thought of or named under the Sun Make thou thy Servant to delight in that which is Good Which is accordingly granted by Custom and Continuance in the same That Self-sufficiency and Contentedness doth arise from God and Duty The Meditation of him is Sweet and there is Joy and Satisfaction in doing his Will So that the Man who is exercised therein doth not envy nor is troubled for the seeming Prosperous Condition of others but he is rather grieved that they also do not come and taste and see that the Lord is Good Blessed is the Man that trusteth in him Psal 34. 8. Our selves the Lord is Witness who knoweth all that is in the Hearts of all the Children of Men are chiefly grieved because People do always err in their Heart Heb. 3. 10. That whilst they desire and seek for it in every thing besides they will not be perswaded nor trust accordingly that this Happiness is to be had in God only That they will not come over to partake of his Goodness When they have at any time right inclinations and dispositions to Obedience this one thing is needful that they would but continue the same O that there was such an Heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my Commandments always that it may be well with them and with their Children for ever Deut. 5. 19. To keep all his Commandments always doth begin their Happiness here which is continued as long as they are on this Earth it is derived down to their Posterity and is for ever consummated in the Heavens This seems to be a plain and positive Assertion of the Holy Ghost that it shall be well with Mankind to keep all his Commandments always But it is contrary to our Thoughts for we often think it expedient to break and not to give heed unto them but yet God is True tho every Man is Wicked and Disobedient What he hath said he will perform and it shall be fulfilled tho we are apt to distrust and Murmur Those Irregular thoughts and our other Sins do hinder that it is not so well with us as it would be otherwise If we did wait on th Lord and keep his way Psal 37. 34. Do his will and Trust in him at all times Psal 62. 8. Believe in him without wavering and doubt how contentedly and cheerfully might we go on in the execution of those things he doth command us If we did resolutely and vigorously put forth using the right and good means we might behold Satan falling from Heaven as Lightning and the Spirits would be subject unto us This would be no small Comfort for they do hinder and defeat our good Purposes But then we should further rejoice that our Names are written in Heaven That we are Servants of Almighty God That we fulfil all his will and do his pleasure What pleaseth our God to command or direct us in that we are likewise pleased to do when we have a frame and temper of Spirit Subject to his Will when our Hearts are once conformed to his Word and Commandments we may serve him with joyfulness and gladness of mind When we consider diligently what he doth already give and provide for us When we believe firmly what he hath further promised when we observe narrowly the secret and hidden ways of his overruling Providence how that all things so work that we may just perform our Duty and be comforted in the mean while So that it is well and better with
several Acts thereof as often as they were proved and tried They are a Rebellious People which walketh in a way that was not Good after their own Thoughts Isa 65. 2. and not according to the Directions of God's Word and the Dictates of his Spirit Unto which they did owe an Allegiance as soon as they were born and an Obedience as soon as ever they came to the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But casting off and giving no heed to that they are here truly and properly termed Rebellious Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the People Which strivings of the People are those Struglings and Doubts and givings back in the Heart of Man before he yields up himself unto the Obedience of God and of his Christ These Strivings would dethrone God and Christ out of the Soul And so they have strove and endeavoured for many Generations successively in the Hearts of the several People thereof To which the answer of the Lord is ever since the days of Noah unto this time My Spirit shall not always strive with Man for that he also is Flesh Gen. 6. 3. for himself hath heretofore and doth still strive with the Hearts and Consciences of Men. In which I will by no means so express it as to say That the Spirit of God hath been overcome But they have rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit Isa 63. 10. They have quenched the Spirit 1 Thess 5. 19. for that thing may and hath been done which we are there cautioned and commanded against so that God doth declare His Spirit shall not always strive with Man that is He will leave off Fighting and Contending with Man for to come to his Obedience but give him over for that he also is Flesh that is wholly given unto Evil and Corruption and to falling away and turning aside Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty Years and afterwards in the time of Moses it is reduced to threescore and ten and fourscore Years see Psal 90. whereby we are given to understand and it is as much as if God should say whether Man will obey me or not whether he will yield unto the strivings of my Spirit or provoke me to withdraw it yet his days shall be near the same he shall live out however the appointed Time according to the Age of a Man And though the Multitude of the People both Men and Women of all the former and present Generations have done thus perversly and contrariwise with God Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish People and unwise is he not thy Father that hath bought thee Hath he not made and established thee Yet as he had one good and godly Family in the midst of a whole ungodly and idolatrous Generation whom he was sure of and who were according to his Mind For I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Gen. 18. 19. So amongst so many rebellious and sinful Generations of Men and Women which have been successively one after another since the World began and the like is at this day and it may be a very few more are to succeed Yet after all these God who calls the Generations from the beginning Isa 41. 4. hath one peculiar Generation in his Eye all of which like Abraham their Father in all their Families and Places will take care that every one of them not one excepted shall keep the way of the Lord To do Justice and Judgment That the Lord may bring upon them all those things which he hath afore spoken of in his Word concerning the Times of Universal Reformation when Thy People shall be all Righteous The Sinners shall be no more When he will make an end of Transgression and bring in Everlasting Righteousness And that God hath such a Generation in his Eye and fore-knowledge is expressed in Psal 22. 30 31. on this wise A Seed shall serve him It shall be accounted to the Lord for a Generation They shall come and shall declare his Righteousness unto a People that shall be born That he hath done this So that as it was said of Abraham He will command his Children and Houshold after him So they will teach their Children and Posterity They shall declare this unto a People that shall be born That the Lord hath done this VVhat is that VVhy when the whole Earth heretofore was Corrupt Evil and gone aside he hath brought them all to rights again as appears and is manifest by that Seed then living upon the Face of the Earth which shall serve him And whereas heretofore The People of some Generations and Countries did serve him for a spurt as we commonly express it Upon God's sending forth some Judgment The Inhabitants of the Earth did learn Righteousness or upon his doing some extraordinary and more than usual thing in the VVorld they would serve him earnestly and diligently for the present Season or for a few Days VVeeks Months or Years But here was the fault and failure that afterwards they would return again to their former Sin and Ungodliness and to their Formal Customary VVorship Though they did keep the Commandments indifferently well for a very little while yet they did again quickly go aside from the Commandments of God And so things have gone on after this rate and manner ever since the Creation But it will be better and otherwise when those Times of Universal Reformation shall come from the pouring out of the Spirit of the Lord. They shall fear thee as long as the Sun and Moon endureth throughout all Generations Psal 72. 5. That is during all their own Life-time and down forward during that of their Children and Posterity which shall ever succeed henceforward The Children of thy Servants shall continue and ther Seed shall be established before thee Psal 102. 28. This is in opposition to that common and true Saying heretofore and now That Grace doth not go by Inheritance for many Godly and Graâ—ious Persons have Ungodly and Graceless Children VVhereas the Promise here speaks The Children of the Servants of the Lord shall continue in the fear of the Lord all one as their Fathers did and their Seed that ir further down shall be Established before thee That is they shall be fixed and firm in the VVorship and Service in the Obedience and doing the VVork of the Lord as their Immediate Fathers and Grandfathers were CHAP. VI. It is made known in the general from the Scriptures of Truth without any Reflections on particular Nations Governments that at length there will be an end of all Wars THere is a time of War and a time of Peace Eccl. 3. 8. And so the course of the VVorld hath went on interchangeably sometimes one and sometimes another ever since that Battel we Read of in Gen. 14. VVhere Abraham
repented the Lord that he had made Man upon the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6. 5 6. But after that the Lord smelled a sweet Savour and the Lord said in his Heart I will not again curse the Ground any more for Man's sake for the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth neither will I again smite any more every thing Living as I have done Gen. 8. 21. This was said upon Noah a Righteous and Perfect Man his building an Altar unto the Lord and offering burnt Offerings on that Altar So that we see and find that it fares better with the wicked World for the sake of the Righteous And after the same similitude of things we may conceive that when the Lord hath been long and sore displeased with the Heathen of former Generations who were at Ease under which word Heathen are comprised all those who know not or who obey not the Lord when the Earth was much corrupâ—ed by reason of their Transgression which did sit heavy â—pon it so that it became as a Smoak or Stink in his Nostrils When the House of Israel dwelt in their own Land they defiled it by their Ways and by their doings Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a Removed Woman Ezek. 30. 17. After God hath born with this a long time then comes and succeeds the Righteous Generation who build an Altar and offer Burnt Offerings on that Altar which like Frankinsence and Myrrh doth take away all the former Stink that the Lord doth smell a sweet Savour from them whereupon he doth abate and mitigate somewhat from that intended Punishment which he had before thought to lay and inflict on the wicked World That he will not stir up all his Wrath nor yet pour on them all and the utmost Evil which he had before purposed to have done Though withal by seeing the exceeding Goodness of the one compared with the Exceeding Sinfulness Evil and Provocation of former Generations it is necessary that some Punishment and Vengeance be actually inflicted on them For the day of Vengeance is in mine Heart Hereby is denoted the futurity thereof and that it is to succeed after the other and the Year of my Redeemed is come Isa 63. 4. Which being expressed in the Present Tense though it is spoken of after the other yet in order of time it will be before that to which agrees the Gospel And the Dead in Christ shall rise first Thess 4. 16. For it is the day of the Lord's Vengeance and the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion Isa 34. 8. What is this controversie of Sion It is even the Lord's Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth That all both Jew and Gentile Heathen and all other People of every Nation Country and Language and of every Generation should obey him the Lord their God And here it comes to pass that some do Obey him and some do not from whence it is appositely stiled Recompences in the Plural Number there being two sorts of them that is to say a Recompence of Good to those that shall be found to have Obeyed him and a Recompence of Evil to such who have not Obeyed him For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. To all People of every Country Kindred and time one of these two ways So that in short if People do not Obey God it is a Controversie which will be decided to their own Misery as themselves will find in the day of the Lord's Vengeance But if they do obey him unto which knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men it will be abundantly made up to them in the Resurrection of the Just in the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion This Controversie the Lord hath been pleading with Men and Women by his Word and Spirit by his Prophets Son Jesus Christ Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Ministers and Servants ever since Man was first Created on the Earth The same lot hath fallen unto me from the Forty third Forty fourth and Forty fifth Verses of the Eighteenth Psalm which I have here endeavoured to Handle Faithfully and Truly according to the Grace and Knowledge according to the Ability and Measure which the Lord hath given and committed unto me according to the proportion of Faith and according to that distribution of Spiritual Qualifications and Endowments which was allotted and here I stand in my Lot Dan. 12 13. to me a single Creature What I write unto others I write unto my self also that I may be found obedient in all those things whereunto I exhort others And whilst the desire of my Soul is to this and the same is the endeavour of my Hands it is a well-grounded hope and assurance that both my self and my Works may be accepted of the Lord. If the Lord who hath the residue of the Spirit Mal. 2. 15. doth stir up others also in like manner as he hath done mine This may somewhat prepare and make way for the Vniversal Reformation of the Lives and Manners of Men. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as Stars for ever and ever But thou O Daniel shut up the Words and seal the Book even to the time of the End Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12. 3. 4. So that after all these Words also may be shut up and this Book may be Sealed until the appointed time draws near and is actually come when God will indeed bring the same to pass even at the time of the End in the very last days and shutting up of all When Christ the Son of David the root and off-spring of David the Bright and Morning Star shall be delivered from the hands of all his Enemies and from the strivings of the People when his Enemies shall be made his Foot-stool and shall be cast out as the dirt in the Street when all his Members Disciples and Followers shall be delivered from the Hand of Saul See the Title of Psalm 18. that is in a Spiritual Signification from the Devil that like as Christ their Head was preserved from and not overcome by his Temptations so he stall see the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied for in that himself hath suffered being Tempted he is able to Succour them that are Tempted Heb. 2. â—8 Whom he doth accordingly so Succour and Preserve in the hour of Temptation and in the day of Trial till at length they become Conquerors and they are delivered from the hand of all their Enemies and from the hand of the Tempter CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psalm 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of this Psalm Whereunto is Sub-joined the shutting up and the Conclusion of this whole Book SO that in that day the words of this Song may be spoken unto the Lord I will
Soul to Sin or be wanting in Duty Both which do now occasion Vexation of Spirit But they shall see and be ashamed for the Envy of the People Isa 26. 11. That is whereas heretofore the World did envy at the People of God from whence did spring up their Hatred and unkind usage of them thinking that such would be more Happy and Blessed than themselves in the end But when God shall also manifest unto them the Favour that even the Wicked had That even they might have learned Righteousness and beheld the Majesty of the Lord see the foregoing Verse They shall be so ashamed for ever having maligned and done despitefully against his Servants as they shall never do it more And whereas also heretofore the Churches had sometimes Rest from their Enemies and again at other Times they were made Havock of and Persecuted This did happen interchangeably and successively as was before observed that at some times some Countries would fear the Lord greatly and then remisly or negligently and not at all And as there was a time of War and a time of Peace among the Nations so likewise as to this we have the certain and assured Promise of the Lord. Also I will ordain a place for my People Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place neither shall the Children of Wickedness waste them any more as at the beginning 1 Chron. 17. 9. He will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1. 9. This as may be seen from the two foregoing Verses is spoken as to that day of Trouble which hath come upon his Servants that trusted in the Lord their Strong-hold which was stirred up and occasioned unto them by the Enemies of the Lord emphatically and truly called his Enemies though they did shew themselves so to his Church that is his People And when as to many of his Prophets his Son Jesus Christ his Apostles Ministers and People Affliction did arise up not only the second time but even in Job's Phrase The Lord was with them even to seven Troubles Job 5. 19. Yea and to Seventy times seven for their whole Life was a continued Train and Series and Succession of Trouble and Affliction How then was this found true Affliction shall not rise up the second time And indeed it cannot be otherwise understood and believed but that God hath another day shortly coming in the which he will fulfil and make good this his Word when God will Return How long This question shews how impatient and desirous our Nature is of it How long O Lord Holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 6. 10. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. So that it will Repent him concerning his Servants O satisfie us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days and make us glad according to the days he hath afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen Evil Psal 90. 13 14 15. for the Lord shall judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he seeth that their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left Deut. 32. 36. Like Sheep they are laid in the Grave Death shall feed on them and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49. 14. Now to make the like Application of all these Scriptures here laid together as Peter did in Acts 1. 16. Men and Brethren who shall read or hear this these Scriptures must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake by the Mouth of Moses David Isaiah and Jesus Christ hath spoken before concerning that poor afflicted and persecuted Condition of the People of God How they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors Isa 14. 2. The Power of these Oppressors shall be utterly gone and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them God shall repent himself for that hard Condition he suffered his Servants to go through with and he will satisfie and make them glad for it Now it being manifest that all this good Word is not as yet performed on this Earth and in this Life from the like Reasoning which the same Apostle Peter makes use of Acts 2. 29 30 31. Acts 3. 21. We may assuredly gather and believe That in the Resurrection and Restitution of all things God will most certainly make good this his Word That all things which are written may be fulfilled And that there will be a beginning and entrance into this Blessed State towards the latter days here on the Earth when the Lord shall reign before his Ancients gloriously And all things shall exactly so come to pass according as he hath aforespoken of in his word When the Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb Isa 11. 6. and there shall be a Concordance and Agreement between the most fierce and devouring Natures of Men and Women with the most calm meek and peaceable Dispositions according to what is further written and confirmed The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. To make way and prepare for this glorious day of universal Holiness and Righteousness is the end of all our Preaching and Writing and laying before Men and VVomen all the Words of Truth which we can The Lord saith I will come near to you to Judgment Mal. 3. 5. So according to the goings forth and Emanations of his Eternal Truth God doth come nearer to the Children of Men both for Good and Comfort to his Saints and Servants as also for Terror and Punishment to the Ungodly and Disobedient For that thy Name is near Thy wondrous Works declare Psal 75. 11. God in Scripture is sometimes said to be afar off and he is invisible So that he cannot be otherwise shewn forth and made known unto others but in his VVorks and by his Name Both which are declared by fit proper and true words So that the Reader need not to be offended at the multitude of them here used if they help to make the invisible God more known unto the Inhabitants of the Earth and render him as it were visible yea and sensible unto their Souls If we do not darken counsel by words without knowledge but according to the measure of the gift in us our words become instrumental that the things pertaining to God's Kingdom are rendred yet clearer and clearer that the Children of Men may more easily understand and perceive them than we do the VVork and VVill of God As I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Isa 38. 18. If