IRELANDS ADVOCATE OR A SERMON PREACHED VPON Novem. 14 1641. to promote the contributions by way of lending for the present reliefe of the PROTESTANTS party in IRELAND In the Parish CHURCH of St. STEPHENS Coleman street LONDON by the PASTOR there JUDGES 5. 23. Curse yee Meroz said the Angell of the LORD curse yee bitterly the Inhabitants thereof because they came not out to the helpe of the LORD to the helpe of the LORD against the mighty But who so hath this worlds goods and seeth his Brother hath need and shutteth up his bowells of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him LONDON Printed for WILLIAM LARNAR and are to be sold at his Shop at the signe of the Golden Anchor neere Paules-Chaine 1641. IRELANDS ADVOCATE OR A SERMON preached upon Novem. 14. 1641. to promote the contributions by way of lending for the present reliefe of the Protestant party in IRELAND 1 JOHN 3. 16. Therefore we ought to lay downe our lives for the Brethren THE sad and most deplorable condition of our Brethren professors of the same Faith and Religion with us in the Kingdome of Ireland as it hath very lately bin represented by Letters from thence unto us is the occasion of turning me aside for the present from that Scripture that I had intended to have proceeded with and of casting me upon this that so as wee have a great opportunity from Hel we may have another from Heaven also to excite and stirre you up to quit your selves like the Children of GOD and the redeemed of JESUS CHRIST by drawing out the bowels of your compassions readily and freely unto those that are or ought to be as deare to you as your selves and your owne Soules The Author of this Epistle was that Disciple and Apostle whom Christ loved that is loved in speciall manner above his fellowes who it seemes as he received abundantly of the sweet fruites and expressions of this affection in GOD and in his Lord and Master JESUS CHRIST towards him so did he abound proportionably in his reciprocall affection towards GOD and JESUS CHRIST againe the fire burned in vehemencie and strength of heate according to the pile of wood that was layd upon it And thus knowing by a double experience the infinite sweetnesse and preciousnesse of this affection he labours more then all the rest of the Apostles to propagate and multiplie it in the hearts of the Children of GOD both towards GOD and towards one another To passe by all other passages in his writings wherein hee labours to promote the cause and Kingdome of this heavenly affection in and neere about the Scripture read unto you hee makes out with a high hand and with many important arguments to kindle this fire in the hearts of men yea and to make it burne out into a vehement flame Greater love hath no man saith our Saviour John 15. 13. then this that a man should lay down his life for his friend and lesser love then this ought no man to have saith John in effect in this place Therefore we ought also to lay down our lives for the Brethren Not so much as to mention any other of his arguments adjoyning neere unto the text both before and after it whereby hee pleades like an Angell of GOD for sinceritie and truth and soundnesse of this affection we speake of in this 16 verse being come to an argument or ground that hee saw could beare it he raiseth his demands in this kinde very high and tells them in effect not onely that it stands them in hand or that it is their duty simply to love one another no nor yet to love one another in deed and in truth but to love one another to the height or to the highest pitch and streyne of this affection we ought also to lay downe our lives for the Brethren which is nothing else being interpreted but as was sayd to love one another with the ferventest and largest and deepest affections that our hearts will hold True it is such a demand as this to lay down our lives for the Brethren riseth very high as was sayd but behold an argument at hand that will justify it and reduce it to a point of the greatest reason equitie and fairenesse that can be Herein saith hee in the former part of the verse have we perceived or knowne love that hee that is JESUS CHRIST layd down his life for us as if he should say this was love indeed this was love in the glory and exaltation of it that our Saviour CHRIST so holy a person so wonderfull in Glory and all manner of excellencie as he was who had no bond or ingagement either of duty or example upon him should freely and willingly part with his life for our sakes to accommodate and pleasure us withall who were his enemies but now for us having such a patterne and example before us to conceive by and such an infinite ingagement upon us as that love of CHRIST is and such an advantage likewise as the benefit redounding to us by that love of CHRIST is to facilitate and make easy any expression of love whatsoever towards those on whose behalfe Christ shall require it it is no great matter in us it is but matter of equitie and duty in us to be so farre raised and carried out in our affections of love towards those that are our Brethren in Christ and partakers of like precious Faith with us as to lay down and part with our lives for them We shall adde no more either for the dependance or meaning of the words We shall from the passage recommend onely this one generall point of Doctrine unto you That the highest and deepest expressions of love to those that are Christs are but matter of duty from Christians when they stand in need of them For we are to take the Apostles expression or inference here with such a limitation as this therefore we ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren viz. if they stand in need of them or if we may accomodate and pleasure them in any proportion or considerable good or benefit thereby not that we ought actually to doe it at all times for then we shall be all bound to die immediatly nor yet that we ought to doe it when we may accommodate them in their necessities otherwise no nor yet to accommodate them in matters of lighter consequence though haply they cannot otherwise be gratified or provided for however I conceive this to be a case rarely incident if incident at all I meane that the common and ordinary affaires or necessities of Christians should not possibly be provided for but by the lives of other of their Brethren for them but in this sense and upon these termes we are all bound to lay down even our lives themselves for the Brethren in the Faith when their necessities are great and sore upon them and the laying downe of our lives may in likelyhood relieve
them or stand them in some speciall service and there is no other meāes in appearance likely to do it Therfore I include al these proviso's and cases of exception in that clause in the Doctrine when they stand in need of them laying it down thus the highest and deepest expressions of love to those that are Christs are but matter of duty from their fellow Christians when they stand in need of them The point lies large and full in the Scripture read unto you so that we shall not need to adde much for the further proofe of it Take we only a Scripture or two So then being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospell of God only but also our own soules i. our lives because you were deare unto us 1 Thes. 2. 8. We see the Apostle here very glorious and high in expressing the tenor of his affection towards this people he was willing to have imparted even his own soule unto them viz. if their condition had required it if he had conceived that hee might have inriched them with peace or comfort by it Whatsoever the intensnesse or pitch of his affection towards them was he could not ascend higher then this in a way of expression to them Greater love then this i. a greater expression or testimony of love then this hath no man saith our Saviour as we heard that a man lay down his life for his friend Now then I demand whether in case Paul had actually performed on their behalfe what hee here professeth himselfe willing and ready to doe that is had indeed imparted his owne soule unto them whether I say he had supererogated or no or gone beyond the line of that which was his duty to doe Doubtlesse that commandement Luk. 10. 27. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soule and with all thy strength and with all thy mind reacheth the utmost extent and point of the utmost abilitie that is in man neither is it possible for any man to rise in any expression whatsoever of love either to God or man above it So then if Paul in laying down his life for the Thessalonians should have done no more then what God required of him in case their condition had required it certainly he requires no lesse of any man when the necessitie of his Saints doe require it Take another Scripture from the same pen of somewhat alike importance Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behinde of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Col. 1. 24. These sufferings of the Apostle for these Colossians that is to accommodate them in the ministery of the Gospell though as he saith he reioyced in them yet doubtlesse they tooke deepe of his outward man and were grievous to the flesh and consequently were great and weighty expressions of his love to them and yet upon the ground lately mention'd they were no more then the demand of a good conscience of him Now Paul and so any other faithfull minister of the Gospel may be said to fulfill or fill up {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the remainders or wantings or afterlings as it were of the sufferings of Christ to open this by the way for the Churches sake when he desisted not from his worke and imployment of preaching the Gospell for any persecution or outward losse or trouble be susteyned thereby There are two things amongst many others of absolute necessity according to the counsaile and course of Gods ordinary dispensation to accomplish the salvation of his elect of whom his body that is his Church consists First the making of a Gospell Secondly the preaching or making knowne of this Gospell The Gospell is no meanes of salvation unto any man except it be revealed and made known unto him Now the Sufferings of Christ were of absolute necessitie to constitute and make the Gospell and they are also of absolute and intire sufficiencie this way Christ wants no sufferings to be added to his or to come up in the reere to second his for any such purpose as this to perfect the Gospell intrinsecally in any kinde But because the making of a Gospell though never so compleate rich and absolute was not enough to effect and actuate the salvation of his Church but the publishing and preaching of this Gospell up and down the world was further necessarie hence it cometh to passe that the afflictions and sufferings of Paul and so of other Ministers of the Gospell are necessarie too over and above the sufferings of Christ to bring the Church into an actuall possession of her glorie For Satan the God of this world will be sure to take a course where he hath to doe and as farre as the length of his arme will extend that the Gospell of Iesus Christ shall not be effectually and with power preached in the world without the trouble and persecution and sufferings of those that shall put forth their hand to that Plough and breake up the fallow ground of the world with it So that except Iesus Christ should make the Ministers of the Gospell willing to suffer from the hands of the world aswell as himselfe did his sufferings according to the platforme of the counsell of God touching the meanes of the Churches salvation would not accomplish it This interpretation might be further argued and strengthened from that word in the originall {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which our translation renders I fulfill or fill up but this English doth not fil up the Greeke the word hath a more emphaticall signification then so The word properly signifieth ex adversa or ex opposito adimplere that is to fill up on the one side as it were over against another who likewise filleth up on the other side or in another way This force or importance of the preposition {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is cleerely seene in that expression or phrase of speech used by our Saviour himselfe Luk 24. 17. where {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} signifieth to conferre together or to speake by way of answere or opposition one to another So that the Apostles meaning in this place seemes to be this that as CHRIST tooke up the one end the fore-end as it were of those sufferings whereby the Church was to be saved and caried and bare that so he help'd to take up the other end the hinder end as it were of the same sufferings this end being as necessary to be taken up and borne by the Ministers of the Gospell as the other was by the Author of the Gospel himselfe But this by the way For further confirmation of the Doctrine I only touch one Scripture more 1 Pet. 4 8. And above all things have fervent charitie or love among your selves If it be the duty of Christians to have fervent love
God and sent into the world by him to be the Saviour thereof Thus CHRIST prayes unto his Father for those that shall beleeve in him that they may all be one as the Father and he are one so that they also may be one in them that for this end that the world may beleeve that thou meaning God his Father hast sent me and somwhat more plainly verse the 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one that the world may know viz. by this their perfection or being made perfect in one that thou hast sent me c. But what is there in this in Beleevers being made perfect in one as our Saviours expression is that should produce such an effect in the world as is here attributed to it viz. the making them to know or the giving of them to understand that God hath senr JESUS CHRIST into the world what proportion is there betweene such an effect as this and such a cause as that I must not stand to open my selfe at large in this take a tast of what I would say further in two words By being made perfect in one our Saviour doubtlesse meaneth that entirenesse and dearenesse of affection that should be between them their being made all one heart as it were and one soule Love we use to say is an affection of union and when it is reciprocally and mutually fervent and strong and rais'd to an excellent degree though amongst never so many it makes a strong consolidation of all into one so that every one hath in effect the same strength and the same wisdome and so every other perfection which any other hath yea or which they all have amongst them In such a case one man so perfected in one with others though never so many hath as much of every thing that is desirable or good as they all have together Now then when those that beleeve in JESUS CHRIST are thus made perfect in one thus intimatly and mightily affecting one another that entercourse of Love and those glorious expressions of this affection passing to and fro from time to time betweene them cannot but be taken notice of by the world and the interpretation of what they see and take notice of in this kinde can lightly be no other when their judgments and consciences are but in any measure themselves then this that that CHRIST whose Disciples and followers these men professe themselves to be was doubtlesse the Sonne of GOD and hath appeared unto them otherwise such an excellent Spirit of Love which we see and behold could not worke in them As Nebuchadnezar and his Nobles saw a fourth man in the Furnace walking with those three which he had cast in whose appearance was like the Sonne of God So in those flames of love wherein the Saints and servants of JESUS CHRIST live and walke together on Earth there is a Spirituall visage or appearance of one greater then they even the appearance of their Great Lord and Master JESUS CHRIST himselfe We should answere that objection here but that we have no time But are there not many other factions or societies of men in the world that hold fast together expresse themselves many times with much affection and cordialnesse one towards another therfore how should any expression of Love whatsoever betweene those that truly beleeve be any argument or conviction unto men that Iesus Christ is he that he is the Sonne of GOD and sent by him into the world we must respite the full answere to this objection to some other time Only you may please to take a tast in two words of what would have bin further enlarged upon this occasion It is true there are many factions and parties and combinations of men in the world that seeme very deere and deeply ingaged amongst themselves that are ready to stand up to plead the cause one of another perhaps even unto blood But here is the difference betweene the affection of love which seemes to rule in other Societies of men and that which ruleth amongst true beleevers when they are perfected in one the reason ground or roote of that affection or deerenesse which reigneth amongst Christians is not any thing visible any thing savoring of the flesh nor can their enemies the men of the world satisfie their judgements or consciences in conceiving so of it though many times they satisfie one another in so speaking whereas the band wherewith other societies of men are chain'd and link'd together is alwaies somewhat that is naturall and which falls within the reach and comprehension of a naturall understanding So that the greatest affection that is found amongst naturall men leadeth the apprehension but to that naturall thing which is the ground and cause of it and there it stayeth but that affection which is or should be found amongst Christians carrieth the minde and thoughts of him that diligently inquireth into the originall and pedegree of it unto a supernaturall principle which can be no other but Jesus Christ as might be shewed more particularly but time hasteneth Reason 5 By such deepe and deere expressions of our love to the Brethren we may be a meanes to open the eyes of the ignorant and blinde and cause them to see and looke upon him whom they have pierced with their sinnes hitherto especially with the sinne of their unbeliefe This reason runs pararell with the former and depends in part upon it Strange tongues and so other miracles are for a signe unto those that beleeve not saith Paul 1 Cor. 14. 22. viz. for the conviction of their unbeliefe and as it were the opening of an effectuall dore unto them to beleeve Now such expressions of Love as we speake of betweene the Saints are of the same kinde of importance and working that tongues and miracles were By this saith Christ John 13 35. shall all men know that yee are my Disciples that is may know it hereby that there is an aptnesse in it to convince them hereof if yee have love one to another Now that which is a meanes to discover and prove men to be the Disciples of Iesus Christ is a meanes likewise of great efficiencie and power to prevaile with men that are yet strangers and enemies to him to become his Disciples also For such a Master were he known and those that know his Disciples cannot lightly be ignorant of him would draw Disciples apace after him Reason 6 The command lies with the same weight and charge upon others also in respect of us and our necessities Indeed if Christ had singled out us out of all the world or any other parcell of beleevers and had imposed that by way of duty which the Text or Doctrine speakes of to lay down our lives or to rise so high in our expression of love unto the rest of the Saints and had not layd the same charge and commandement indifferently upon them in respect of us and our necessities
the commandement might have secmed somewhat hard and the practise of it might have bin stuck at but now since he who hath ingaged us to ingage our selves so deeply in the behalfe of others when they stand in need hath ingaged them likewise to ingage themselves proportionably for us when we stand in need obedience unto the commandement cannot but seeme very equall and reasonable as well on our part in respect of others as upon others in respect of us The Apostle taketh off the seeming hardnesse or offensivenesse of that demand which he made to the Church of Corinth for somewhat a larger contribution then ordinary the necessities of the Saints in other places requiring it for the present by this very consideration or reason 2 Cor 8. 13. For I meane not saith he that other men be eased and you burdened But by an equalitie that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance also may be a supply for your want that there may be equality Reason 7 GOD hath endued those that are his with power from on high to doe it he hath furnished them with a new principle out of which by a due and conscionable improvement of it in themselves they are able to afford all that is required of them in this kinde So that if any man or woman I meane that is borne againe and is a childe of GOD shall finde their hearts low and base and unworthy in this kinde below the line and levell of that duty now presented unto you it is because they doe not effectually stirre up the grace of God within them as the Apostle somewhere speakes they bow downe their backs to the suggestions of the flesh whereas their strength were it put forth accordingly would serve them to goe upright Consider that one Scripture to this purpose 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing you have purified your Soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently Here two things amongst many others are plainely implied First that no man is able out of any naturall principle to love the Brethren that is the Saints the heart must be purified through the word and Spirit of GOD together that is that base and drossie affection of inordinate self-love must be purged away before a man be able to lift up his heart to such a spirituall and heavenly service as this Secondly that a man or woman having obtained such an excellent principle as this a power of loving the Saints unfeignedly through the purifying of their hearts are bound in a speciall manner to give out themselves fully and freely according to the nature strength and importance of this principle to expresse themselves in excellent termes of love and respects unto them as their necessities shall require it This for the 7 and last reason We addresse immediatly to the Vse and application of the Doctrine we shall be very briefe in particulars here By way of Instruction in the first place we may from the Doctrine observe sundry particulars As First that the minde and good pleasure of JESUS CHRIST concerning his Saints and people on Earth is that you should be a societie or body of men and women in the world animated and quickened as it were mooved and acted by a spirit of love as the life or soule of it that you should abound in this affection above all other societies of men whatsoever Doubtlesse he that commands us to lay down our lives one for another commands us also by a commandement involv'd and wrap'd up in this commandement to maintaine a Spirit of most ardent and burning affection towards one another A man can never be instructed or taught to die willingly by any other teacher or teaching whatsoever but by Love yea and that such a Love of such a conquering and commanding power that it must tread downe the strength of a thousand loves and desires besides yea and many of these of soveraigne strength and power also To require a man to lay downe his life for the Brethren out of any other ground or principle whatsoever then out of an affection of love to them and that transcendently glorious is in effect to bid him gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles Secondly This likewise is by way of instruction observable from the Doctrine That men doe but that which is their duty in this kinde when they are enlarged in the greatest measure in the expressions of their love towards their Brethren if they should give all their goods and part with their whole substance to them yea if they should lay downe their necks and jeopardie their lives for their sakes yet there is nothing to boast of in all this they are never-the-lesse to remaine vile and little in their own eyes If their right hand doth never so much in this kinde yet should not their left hand know any thing at all of it Heights of duty should no waies prejudice or hinder the depths of humilitie So likewise yee saith our Saviour to his Disciples when you shall have done all things that are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to doe Observe Thirdly by way of Instruction what gratious and blessed provision the Lord JESUS CHRIST hath made for the poore and weake and distressed ones in any kinde in his Church Hee hath ingaged the rich and strong and those that are at libertie and that have meanes of reliefe or support in any kinde in their hand to be ready at all times to minister unto them The necessities of any as farre as they are made knowne are a summons from Heaven to call the rest to looke after them and relieve them If this royall Law were duly observed in the Church of CHRIST one sufferer should create and raise up many relievers neither should there be heard the complaint or crie of any man sinking whilst there remaines any one swimming It is a signe that the minde of CHRIST is not fulfilled by his body if there be one member hungry whilst another is drunken if there be want in any place before there be want in all Fourthly we are yet in the way of instruction If the highest and deepest expressions of our love to the Saints be but matter of duty in us as their necessities may determine it then is it not any discharge of a mans duty nor to be counted obedience unto GOD or unto the Lord JESUS CHRIST when the necessities of your Brethren being great and sore upon them men shall minister unto them in a sparing pinching and contemptible manner when the condition of the Saints requires it may be the one halfe of our substance and we cast in two mites into their treasury when their exigences call us to lay downe our lives for them and we are willing onely to bestow the parings of our nailes upon them Doubtlesse
to minister unto the necessities of the Saints upon such termes as these is no better obedience nor any whit a more acceptable service unto GOD then that of Saul was when being commanded to smite Amaleck and to destroy utterly all that appertained to them c. he only destroyed that which was vile and nought worth amongst them but spared Agag the King and all the best of the sheepe and oxen and all that was good 1. Sam. 15. 3. 9. As Saul was rejected by GOD and that with much indignation and arrested from Heaven with a writ of rebellion served upon him by the hand of the Prophet Samuel for such an abusing of the commandement of GOD which yet to himselfe seem'd a sufficient and plausible obedience So is it more then to be feared that many men please themselves and are lifted up in a selfe admiration for doing that in a way of charitie and reliefe unto the â—aints which being interpreted by GOD is rather a reproach and mockerie to his pleasure and command that way then any obedience or subjection to it Lastly for Instruction if the highest and deepest expressions of love to the Saints be but matter of duty when their necessities require them then is not that which any man possesseth in the things of this world whether estate liberty life c. so much to be look'd upon as a mans owne to speake properly as the Churches and houshold's of Faith GOD we see both in the Text and Doctrine delivered who hath an absolute Sovereigntie of right and power to dispose both of our persons and of all we have hath interessed the Brethren that is the whole communion and Brotherhood of the Saints both in our persons and in our possessions The necessities of the Saints are sealed and confirmed from Heaven as a lawfull right and title to such proportions and shares in our estates and in any other meanes of help and support that we are able to afford as are proportionable to them and of a considerable importance to relieve them That civill right or proprietie we have in our possessions is not by Christians to be looked upon or pleaded in Barre to that Spirituall right which all the Saints have in them also Secondly The Doctrine affords matter of Reproofe also and that of foure sorts of men The first are those that will needs be numbred amongst the righteous yea are ready to thinke themselves evilly entreated and hardly dealt with if they have not their place assigned them at the upper end of the Table amongst the Houshold of Faith if they be not looked upon as the true servants of Jesus Christ at least and yet are as a dry and barren wildernesse to the Saints and looke upon this family of Heaven as strangers unto them especially when they stand in need of an helping hand from them in any kinde A little affliction falling upon a servant of GOD wherein their helpe is required puts him quite out of their knowledge as Davids necessitie made Nabal that he did not know him 1 Sam. 25. 10. Who is David and who is the sonne of Ishai If David had bin a great Courtier or the Sonne of Ishai a favourite of King Saul it is no otherwise like but Nabal could have knowne him well enough But perceiving that his knowledge of him in such a condition and streight as he was now in would be chargeable to him and cost him some of his bread and of his flesh he would by no meanes owne his knowledge of him Such a condition wherein a man shall stand in neede of the helpe of another is in the interpretation of a base close-fisted generation amongst us an evidence against him that he doth not belong to CHRIST Alasse how farre are these from laying downe their lives for their Brethren and consequently from being Christians who can acknowledge none for Christians but those that have no need of them at all when Lazarus shall be cast out of Abrahams bosom these shall goe thither in his stead Secondly There is another sort of Professors too which though they seeme not altogether so bad as the former yet their prerogative above them were a deere bargaine of the Widowes two mites if it were to be bought with them These are such who though they will not be seene to sit out in the necessities of the Saints when others are in yet they will play but at very small game as we say to relieve them they neither consult with the greatnesse or depth of the Saints necessities nor with the fulnesse or superfluities of their own estates but with the narrownesse and seantnesse of their owne base dispositions This is the only Oracle they inquire at and by which they are regulated in all they doe for the Saints upon any occasion whatsoever They have a forme of giving as the Apostle speakes of some that have a forme of knowledge which neither mends nor paires neither riseth nor falls nor any waies alters by any difference or occasions or opportunities whatsoever If the fit of charitie be upon them they will give asmuch to a vagrant beggar by the way side as they will to save the lives of ten thousand Saints and no great matter neither to the one or towards the other If men be rich in the things of this world and not rich in good workes too they are not like to lay hold of eternall life 1 Tim. 6. 19. We know the rich young-man in the Gospell though he was neere unto the Kingdome of heven yet because he would not sell all that he had and give liberally to the poore being required to do it never entred thereinto For rich men under the Law that had great heards of Cattell and flocks of sheepe and Goates to have brought Turtles or young-Pigeons for their offering had been a prophanation of the Temple and despising of GOD And so for men of great estates to have cast in 2 mites into the Treasury as the poore Widdow did had rather bin a coÌ„tumelie or affront put upon that service or custom of offering then any expression of charitie or devotion Cursed be the deceiver saith the Lord himselfe by his Prophet which hath in his flock a male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1. 14. And is it not a sin of very neere affinitie with this and so obnoxious to the same Curse when men that are able to relieve by thousands and the extremities of the Saints call for reliefe by thousands shall yet minister reliefe but by tens yea and scarsely by this proportion Thirdly another sort worse then both the former are such who are so farre from managing an affection of love to the Saints with those high and excellent expressions we speake of even when the greatest need requires that to keepe their bread and water and credit too are still ready to blaspheme the pouertie or hard condition of the Saints in any kind as if they were
of a base originall and descent as if they alwaies proceeded either from negligence sloathfulnesse rashnesse want of discretion and foresight or the like Because men have no minde or will in this case to part with their money nor are yet willing to make any part of satisfaction for that basenesse with their names and reputations they have no waies to bring both these ends together but by insimulations aspersions and sundry imputations to render those unworthy whose necessitous condition calls upon them for reliefe Thus Nabal sought to make a covering for his owne shame in refusing to supplie David in his extremitie of that wicked insimulation or reproach cast upon David as that he should be some servant run away from his Master 1 Sam. 25. 10. There be many servants now adaies that breake away every man from his Master Out of these impertinent premisses this base minded wretch thought he might lawfully and commendably inferre this conclusion therefore there was neither reason nor conscience why he should part with any thing to David The like spirit of base insinuations against the Saints in distresse is taken in by that other uncleane spirit of covetousnesse which reignes in the hearts of many amongst us to defend him against the just smitings both of conscience and of the tongues of men Fourthly and lastly for reproofe those are yet worse then the former if worse may be who instead of loving the Saints fervently and with a pure heart and with all demonstrations and rich expressions of this love as occasion requires are still snarling and biting and vexing them with injuries reproaches backbitings and all manner of evill entreatings And yet there are of this generation also that must be honoured before the Elders of their people too with the Names and reputations of good Christians Any thing it seemes will serve for the present to make Christians and Saints of Hey and Stubble and wood will serve to beare the name and outside of Christianity aswell as silver gold and precious stones but when they shall be made to passe through the fire of Gods judgement then that Hey and Stubble and wood we speake of will make no more Christians but base hypocrites and accursed unbeleevers only How farre are these men from that streyne of Christianity which is required of all men in the Doctrine from ministring richly with a large heart and with an open hand to the necessities of the Saints when their daily practise is to give them gall and vinegar to drinke to bring pressures and to heap sorrowes upon their head instead of making their beds for them in their sicknesse they cast them into beds of sicknesse and sorrow If the ministers of Satan be Angells of light such men as these are good Christians and when God shall bring againe the Captivity of Belzebub and his Angells and restore them to their first estate in Heaven these shall have part and fellowship in Heaven with them A third and last Vse of the Doctrine shall be for exhortation and that to all those that meane to doe any good upon the profession and trade of Christianity that desire to raise themselves for ever by it The duty I shall recommend unto you is only this that you would make it matter of conscience as well as you doe any other duty in the world as to abstaine from Murder Drunkennesse Adultery or the like yea that you would make a solemne worke and labour of it to abound in that sweete and heavenly affection of love towards the Saints and to give full and free testimony and account thereof both unto God and men as their occasions shall from time to time require Quit your selves in this kinde I beseech you as the Disciples and followers of him who when the necessitie of the world and of your soules particularly required it and could not be saved without it freely emptied himselfe of all his greatnesse and glory and poured out his deerest soule an offering for it and was content to take rest and peace and glory in reversion when as otherwise he might have had them in present possession In a word that you will count nothing of all you possesse in this world deere unto your selves that your love to the Saints may reigne and triumph in all the rich and glorious and high expressions thereof as the condition of any of these shall require Particularly to turne in a little to that speciall occasion which hath drawn out my heart and soule unto you this day in this subject that you will vindicate your selves for Christians indeed and your love to the Saints and servants of JESUS CHRIST like it selfe by your ready and free and liberall contributions by way of lending for your love for the present is not put to any greater triall then this to redeeme the lives and liberties and estates of your poore Brethren the Protestants in Ireland if GOD will yet vouchsafe to honour your zeale and forwardnesse in this kinde with such an honourable vouchsafement as this out of the mercilesse hand of those cruell blood thirstie and implacable enemies both theirs and your's that Butcherly and bloody faction of Rome who are now gathered together like an Army of chafed Beares and fierce Lyons against them in an heate and ecstacie of revenge and being led on by that Prince of darknesse that great roaring Lyon the Devill have their hands lifted up on high to slay and kill and to destroy to commit all manner of insolencies and barbarons outrages as they shall be inspired and taught by that God of this world whom they serve in this spirit of revenge which now possesseth them The considerations and motives that may strengthen your hand to this service that is recommended to you are both more in number and greater in weight and consequence by farre then I am able to expresse Give me leave to touch you with some few of them First that faction of Hell the Romish party are of a very formidable strength and power amongst them they were some while since reported to have bin an Army of about 30000 fighting men and to be daily increasing and gathering greater numbers unto them They have already taken many strong Townes and Castles and have made themselves Lords and Masters of them and many Captaines and other Officers that have bin trained up and exercised in Warres are said to have come over from beyond the Seas unto them to assist them in their enterprize In so much that the feare and dread of them is fallen and ready still to fall upon many that they have and are likely every day more and more to revolt and fall in unto them So they are not like to be resisted or withstood but with an high hand The strength and power of the enemy which is so formidable to your Brethren and in it selfe also let it not I beseech you be contemptible in your eyes but gaine proportionably upon your hearts and