our Souls vvere filled vvith the Odours of thy sweet-smelling Myrrh On this Scent Lord vve follovv hard after thee vvhile our enemies Cant. 5.5 7. the VVatchmen that go about the City pursue O how long how â—ong wilt thou hide thy self in thy displeasure until we acknowledge our offence Hos 5.15 and seek thy face Lord thou knowest we freely acknowledge all that thou hast pleased to convince us of we seek thy face And now what doth the Lord require of us O VVhy is his chariot so long a coming Judg. 5.28 why tarry the wheels of his chariots Psal 68 13. How long shall thy Beloved lye among the Pots and thy children cry in vain O what is the Cloud that covers thee Surely 't is no little cloud that can hide so great a Presence no small offence that can provoke so patient so indulgent a Father Thou wilt not thou canst not be angry for trifles Who where iâ— he that hath been thâ— Make-bate between us â— Come Jon. 1.7 and let us cast lots that we may know for whosâ— cause this evil is come upon â—s Be it our Benjamin â— right hand or a right â—ye let it die and â—et us be the Lord's Bond-men This is the business that is before thy servants vve are come to cast lots on â—ur Selves this day that we may know who and what it is that hath troubled the Camp Give a perfect lot make a convincing Evidence though it be a Jonathan 1 Sam. 14.39 he shall surely dye be it a pleasant Daughter an only child that hath been wont to court us with Timbrels and dances Judg. 11.34 35. it shall be as the Daughter of Jephthah For we have opened our Mouth unto the Lord and vve wall not go back Lord Wilt thou make a Covenant this day with thy Servants that are unfeignedly willing to renevv their broken Covenant vvith the Lord their God Shall it once more be said that the Lord delighteth in England Wilt thou once more betroth us to thy self for â—ver yea Hos 2.19 betroth us unto â—hee in righteousness and in judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies and in faithfulness Prune us lop us dig us dress us and then try us once more O vvhat a Garden what a Husbandry what a Workmanship mayst thou make of us vvhat a Temple vvhat a Tower mayst thou build to thy great Name in the midst of us hovv Fair how Beautiful mayst thou make us Dear God! Once more â— once more try vvhat thou canst do vvith and for poor England O â— let us once more look from the top of Amana Cant. 4.8 and Shenir and Hermon from the Lions dens from the Mountains of the Leopards and stay thy rough vvind Isa 27.8 in this the day of the East-wind And now that thy vvrath is gone out and thy Plague begun among thy people Numb 16.46 47 48. Suffer thy poor servant to take his Censer â—et thy Spirit put on â—â—e from the Altar and â—hy dear Son my dearâ—st Saviour put on Inâ—ense and so let him be one of those that stand between the dead and the liâ—ing to turn away thy vvrath from Israel Accept of his pleading with Thee and give success to his pleading with Man That thy Rod may not leave us in our Ruins nor in our Sins Lord thou hast us now on the wheel mayest thou not novv fashion us on vvhat mould thou vvilt Thou hast us in the Furnace mayest thou not make of us vvhat thou pleasest Thou hast us in the Nets mayest thou not bind us to what thou wilt Thou hast found us in our Month vvilt thou novv take the advantage on us and bring us to thine ovvn terms O Lord Isa 62.3 4. Spare Jerusalem and see it a quiet habitation Say unto England Thou shalt be a Crovvn of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed Desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah For the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be married Look down from Heaven and behold Isa 63.15 16 17. from the Habitation of thy Holiness and of thy Glory Where is thy zeal and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy Mercies towards me are they restrained Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy from thy wayes and hardned our heart from thy fear Return for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thine Inheritance for thy Mercies sake for thy great Name 's sake for thy Covenant's sake for thy Christ's sake return return Even so Lord Amen! Amen! TO THE READERS Brethren MY hearts desire Rom. 80.1 and Prayer to God for Israel is that it might be saved Ier. 4.14 In order vvhereunto I have cast in this my Mite as so much Nitre to wash your hearts from wickedness For the Voice declareth from Dan and publisheth Affliction from Mount Ephraim Will the Lord sanctifie it and separate it unto this end I have been mending my broken Nets and now this once more I come to Shoot Scene the Lord bless the Venture I intend not to hold you here my Message to you is in that which follovvs If you seek for my Apology 1 Cor. 9.6 you may find it For Necessity is laid upon me yea Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel The style indeed is plain and unpolisht Fancies and Flourishes become not our mourning Weeds If thou art a Mourner in Zion thou canst not take it amiss to see a Text cloathed in Sackcloth I have nothing here to stay your eyes for my Errand is to your Hearts at these doors I am come to knock the Word knocks the Rod knocks the Spirit knocks Cant. 5.2 Open to me my Sister my Love my Dove my Undefiled for my head is filled with the dew and my Locks with the drops of the Night 'T was the Rich mans vain Request Luke 16.27 That one might be sent from the Dead to vvarn his brethren and 't was denyed him but in a sence granted you God hath sent you a Messenger from the Dead a Dry Bone to plead vvith you O Let the Dead praise the Lord on your account so shall our dry bones live 1 Thess 3.8 For now â—â—e live if ye stand fast â—n the Lord. Remember He that novv calls you will shortâ—y arraign you when Hills and Mountains shall not hold you Luk 23.30 nor hide you He that how entreats you shall â—hortly Judge you when these things shall be recognized and more fully and convincingly debated 2 Cor. 5.11 Knovving therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men And O Sirs be perswaded God's twenty
these three wayes 1. By belying them Thus the Sorcerers and Magicians of Egypt endeavoured to belye God to the hardning and ruining of Pharaoh and his People Are there none of these Politique Magi to be found among us who beyond the Impudence of the Chaldean Astrology will undertake to interpret the hand-writing pro lubitu suo These are some of Israels Prophets of whom God speaks Jer. 14.15 The Prophets that prophesie in my name and I sent them not yet they say Sword and famine shall not be in this Land by Sword and Famine shall those Prophets be consumed These sons of Chenaanah that with their horns of iron will push the Syrians untill they have consumed them will at Ramoth be of another mind 1 Kin. 22.11 If God threatens 't is in vain for us to flatter our selves you may call evil good and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evident prints of the Finger of God Fortune Chance or Casualty the threatnings of Scripture old Antiquated Riddles the plain-dealing of Michaia a spirit of ill will and disloyal affection but you will not call Hell Heaven nor everlasting Burnings the Blessedness you promised your selves 2. By deriding them When Israel was rotten-ripe for Judgment and God was sending his harvest-men to make a smooth field of them 't is recorded to their shame but for our warning 2 Chron. 36.15 16. The Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling-place but they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me said Zedekiah to speak to thee 1 Kin. 22.24 The day is coming that thou shalt know by what spirit we are acted that we speak not of our selves nor run like Ahimaaz on a feigned or begged errand And if we must be mockt and derided and smitten on the cheek for our labour yet for our own sakes we rejoyce but for our sacred authorities sake and for your own souls sake we cannot but tremble and weep both over it and you 3. By taking a wrong course to evade them These were some of Saul's practical Politicks God had threatned to rent the Kingdom from him and to give it to a neighbour of his that was better then he 1 Sam. 15.28 and now the wisest course he can advise on to secure his Kingdome is to destroy the man were it possible whom God had chosen to succeed him So when God withdrew his presence from him at Gilboa and answered him not neither by dreams nor by Vrim nor by Prophets 1 Sam. 28.6 which is one ordinary symptom as I have shewn you of some Judgment at hand away he runs to forbidden means nay by his own law forbidden and condemned and sues to the Devil for counsel in his desperate case I might enlarge my self here but what might farther be added I shall reserve for another place You have heard your duty Brethren but Vse 2 duty heard and in the notion of it acknowledged and yet not practically imbrâ—ced is the God-â—rovoking sin and the heart-plague of this our Sceptick Age. Duties are obligatory on the Conscience and Conversation O take heed of breaking Gods bonds and casting his cords from you We have heard nay in some measure we feel both the symptoms and strokes of the Lords Rod Sit down now and begin to count the cost There is a Wilderness and a Jordan and it may be a Red Sea yet before us gird up the loyns of your minds now and be strong in the Lord. Watch and be sober Watch for the word of command and resolvedly stick to your choice and holy profession whatever come oâ—â—t And for your awakening and encouragement consider 1. Within a few moments more all the merry dayes of the wicked and all the sad hours of the righteous shall be at an end for ever the Field shall be tried and the Battel shall be over and the old Quarrel never to be reviv'd more between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent The pleasures of sin are but for a moment Heb. 11.25 and How are they brought down into desolation as in a momentâ— Psal 73.19 He seems to be ravisht at the conceit of it Those Vipers that even now were threatning thy destruction and greedily thirsting for thy blood see with the turn of a hand they are gone and are now crawling in the fire O wonderful and glorious change For when they shall say Peace and Safety then sudden destruction commeth upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5.3 O Sinner One moment more and then succeeds thy wofull Eternitie One game more and then turns up thy undoing Card. One hour's pastime more and then farewell to all thy pleasures for ever not one song not one dance not one pot not one glimpse of joy not one merry thought nor word more then On this one Cast lies thy whole Estateâ— Spend out this as thou art doing and thou haâ—â— never a farthing more to spend nor to save iâ— this world nor in the world to come So on thâ— other hand the troubles of the righteous are under the same Date and determination the oneâ—s hell is altogether as short as the others heaven For as the one Bucket goes down the other comes up His anger endureth but a moment Psal 30.5 Our light affliction which is but for a moment 2 Cor. 4.17 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 54.7 8. Pluck up thy spirits then O Christian and turn to thy strong hold thou Prisoner of hope Zech. 9.12 Cant. 2â—8 Behold yonder comes thy Redeemer leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills See what haste he makes he is come he is come Behold he standeth behind our wall he looketh forth at the window He is nearer than thou art aware Arise O drooping Soul â— view the heavens 't is all cleer and serene above us In portu navigas Are not these the gates of thy Father's Kingdom Is not the smell of the Country already in thy Nostrils Are not the golden Instruments of Joy a tuning to welcome â—ome the lost Son O hold out Faith and Patience Luk. 15.25 one League farther one Tide more and then thou art safe for ever Reason thus with thy self Were This my Portion and all that I were ever like to see or hope for were my whole Venture in this Leaking bottom Had I no settled Inheritance another where I were miserable indeed yea of all men the most miserable but blessed be the freeness of rich Grace
may serve thee as Rebeccah served Isaac 〈◊〉 may dress thee a savoury Dish such as tâ—â— likest and tell thee that the Lord 〈◊〉 God hath brought it to thee Bastard Coâ—â— forts may seem very beautiful and stollen â—â—ters sweet but these are wasting Comfoâ—â— Cisterns that will not hold long these Wâ—â— will quickly run on the Lees when God â—â—gins to walk with thee above thy reach 〈◊〉 to lead thee through the dark and narrow wâ—â— of his Providence these Comforts will 〈◊〉 Shades too and tend to thy disquietmâ—â—â— Therefore my brethren examine your Câ—â— forts see whose Image and superscription 〈◊〉 bear and be sure that among all oâ— things you have to comfort your selves wâ— you be not without that one which will 〈◊〉 for t you in Death and sweeten the bitterest 〈◊〉 for you 3. Consider What use have you madâ— your Comforts How have you set Faith 〈◊〉 Hope on work in your straits and difficult 〈◊〉 â—â—th God given you this Talent to lie idle by 〈◊〉 Those Jewels that are of greatest worth 〈◊〉 of greatest use The more there is of Priâ—â—edge in it the more of Duty Blessed be 〈◊〉 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Father of mercies and the God of all comâ—â—t who comforteth us in all our tribulaâ—â—â— that we may be able to comfort them â—â—â—ch are in any trouble by the comfort whereâ—â—â—h we our selves are comforted of God 2 Cor. â—3 4. Here are four things observable in 〈◊〉 comforts 1. The ground or original of 〈◊〉 and that was God the Father of merâ—â—â— and the God of all comfort 2. Their way 〈◊〉 Conveyance 't was through Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 therefore he adds the Father of our Lord â—â—us Christ 3. Their Sufficiencie it was universal cordial comfort in all tribulation The end or use of it which was two-fold â—ate and Publick 1. Private It begat him a thankful frame of heart Blessed be 〈◊〉 who comforteth us 2. Publick viz. 〈◊〉 communication of the same comfort to â—s That we might be able to comfort them â—â—th are in any trouble Now sit down and sider what 's the reason your comforts are â—ow and spiritless how comes it to pass 〈◊〉 are ever and anon fainting under the 〈◊〉 and ready to give up your hopes for lost 〈◊〉 art thou cast down O my soul and why thou disquieted within me Are the trouâ—â—â— of this world too hard for the hopes of the 〈◊〉 to come and lie heavier on you than Christ can bear in you Was it Paul's expeâ—â—ence only who could say 2 Cor. 1.5 As 〈◊〉 sufferings of Christ abound in us so our conflation also aboundeth by Christ Christiaâ—â— thy faint and heavy carriage and sad 〈◊〉 quietments do reflect on thy Profession 〈◊〉 on the glorious Attributes of God Tâ—â— are your Priviledges Temporal and Spâ—â—tual which is the sixth Talent we have 〈◊〉 in question 7. Your Afflictions are another of your 〈◊〉 trusted Talents God is now reckoning 〈◊〉 you by his Rod the time is coming that 〈◊〉 will reckon with you for his Rod. Would not be sad if your present miseries should 〈◊〉 aggravate your future unhappiness Oh! 〈◊〉 what horrour will Conscience look back onsâ—â—â— less afflictions When thou liest stretcht ouâ—â—â— the Threshold of a miserable eternity thy 〈◊〉 bedience to the Word will sufficiently astoâ—â— thee but thy hardening under the Rod 〈◊〉 be one of the bitterest Memento's that shalâ—â— in thy mind When the Brute Creatâ—â— with whose bodies and lives thou art now â—â—â—ting thy unreasonable Lusts shall rise in Jâ—â—â—ment against thee who never were guilâ—â—â—â— so stupid stubborn and unteachable a spâ—â—â—â— as thou Hath God cast thee into the fire 〈◊〉 art thou the same still or rather worse 〈◊〉 worse Be sure sinner God hath a Furâ—â—â—â— that 's seven times hotter than any thou 〈◊〉 ever tried yet and that will melt thee 〈◊〉 one of the saddest Judgments in the world 〈◊〉 come out of afflictions unreform'd for this is usually one of Gods last and most effectual courses to humble proud hearts If the Rod once leave thee uncurable there 's little hope of thee Oh! that I could awaken you now Oh! that God would awaken you That I night but open your skirt for one of the healing and yet wounding Arrows of his Spirit â—o enter you surely he will not spend them all upon you in vain If they will not pierce thee â—ow his Quiver is yet full of the flaming Darts of his vengeance with which he will â—ursue thee into Hell and there thou must stand â—is Butt to all eternity 8. And lastly Your Relations are not the â—east part of your Talent Here I might subdivide my Course many waies in this large â—ield but I shall knit up all in as few words as 〈◊〉 can There 's never a one but stands in seâ—eral Relations to others and every Relation â—harg'd full of Duty But within the bounds â—f Family-Relations I shall at present direct my way 1. I shall begin with Masters of Families Oh! how few are there that duely consider â—he duties of such a Relation How have Gods saithful servants labour'd at this Oar to convince men of and perswade them to the obedience and practise of these duties No string 〈◊〉 often set as this and yet no string so much â—ut of tune still How have you weighed the â—urden that lies upon your hands The bloud â—f your servants souls is like to lie at the doors of your Neglects another day You must not think to answer God as Cain answered in another case Am I my brothers keeper God hath committed not only their bodies but their Souls to your care Exod. 20.10 And what have you done for them more than their bare Indentures or Covenants have inforced you May not God justly say to thousands among us nay to most of us as once to Cain The voice of thy Servants blood cryeth unto me not from the ground but from Hell Certainly 't is a dreadful thing to consider what cursed and heathenish cruelty there is shewn towards the souls of poor servants Oh! what an influence might you have upon them did you but take the right course with them how would a little condescending self-denying gentleness and love prevail with Inferiours You are crying out upon their unfaithfulness idleness stubbornness and profaneness Oh! Consider where one great cause lies Hath not your worldliness or frowardness or supercilious unchristian-like stoutness or your own evil Example or Negligence and unwatchfulness in your duties been thâ— main thing that hath produced it What time have you allowed them for their souls what Counsel what Arguments have you used with them what pains have you taken to inform or reform them how often have you been oâ— your knees on purpose to God for their souls Were the Egptian Task-masters ever moâ—â— exact for their tales of Brick than you have been with them Do you think you are serviâ—â— of God and that God will accept an offering
in their rage know no distinction beâ—ween Friends and Enemies What mean ye â—hat ye use this Proverb saying The Fathers â—ave eaten soure grapes and the childrens teeth â—re set on edge Ezek. 18.2 The soul that â—neth it shall dye ver 4. Be sure Yet see ver 1. God is not â—riking thee for nought he sees cause enough 〈◊〉 this cup had never come to thy share Lo I â—ave sinned saies David and I have done wickâ—ly but these sheep what have they done â—et thy hand I pray thee be against me See also Ezek. 14.23 â—nd against my Fathers house 2 Sam. 24.17 â—ow in this serious reflection on our wayes we â—ould consider 1. Our sins with their aggravations Paâ—don of Sin is the Gate of Mercy while Sâ—lyeth at the door Mercy cannot enter Penâ—tent Confession is the only Lege-way to Pâ—â—don and certainly a distinct knowledg 〈◊〉 necessarily precede such Confession and a diâ—gent Search such Knowledge In this Climeâ— there 's no striding two stairs at once if yâ—â— fail in one you are out in all The removal 〈◊〉 an Affliction before the Sin be removed is thâ— way to a greater and more spiritual Judgment and to turn Rods into Scorpions O my bâ—â— thren for your Souls sake and for your dâ— Posteritie's sake search and try your wayâ—â— pass an impartial review on all the Passages 〈◊〉 Transactions of your hearts and lives Thâ— God is displeased we doubt not and that 〈◊〉 is the cause we doubt not but what these 〈◊〉 are and when where and how this guilt 〈◊〉 and hath been contracted is that which noâ— the Rod calls on us to examine Sinner wâ—â— thou be perswaded to set thine heart to 〈◊〉 work Seemeth it a small thing that God hâ—â— imprisonâ—d his own Glory and hath mingâ—â— our tears nay our bloud with our sacrifices 〈◊〉 dâ—vided and torn us Soul and Body Church anâ— State And after all shall God take up his oâ—â— Lamentation over us Jer. 8.4 5 6 7 Thus saith the Lord Shall they fall and 〈◊〉 arise shall he turn away and not return 〈◊〉 then is this People slidden back by a perpetâ—â—â— backsliding they hold fast deceit they refâ—â—â— to return I hearkned and heard but theâ— spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done every one turneth to his course as the horse rusheth into the Battel Oh! how should our thoughts â—â—ry into every corner and leave no stone unturn'd lest the Leprosie should be in it and the last end be worse than the beginning 1. The sin of our nature will afford us matter of large consideration and sad lamentation That Peccatum agens that Pregnant Sin â—hat Root of Bitterness the Original of all our Sin and Misery Now sit down and seriously â—onsider Lord in what a case was I born â—nd how long did I lie ignorant of and conâ—ented under that estate how little have I been â—roubled about it how faint and heartless at â—est have my endeavours been to wrestle with 〈◊〉 or to escape from it oh how full am I still of the old Dregs like a Cake not turn'd but â—â—ttle more than half bakâ—e perpetually prone â—o backsliding If thou wilt know from whence 〈◊〉 is that the Streams run so foul away to the â—ountain and there thou shalt quickly see how 〈◊〉 comes to pass and that it is more than an â—cquired Pollution the Fountain the Founâ—â—in is unclean This was David's course â—sal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity â—nd in sin did my mother conceive me Sin set â—ut with me the very first step from my Conâ—â—tion the Leprosie clave unto me in the very â—it from whence I was digged He that never â—â—lt the bitterness and weight of Original sin â—â—rther than it discover'd it self in Actual is yet a stranger to true Repentance And for the aggravation of this Plague of our Natures consider the sinful effects of it 2. In respect of omission How hath it deadned thee to all kinds of duty especially to the most spiritual and self-denying duties When we should and sometimes when we would dâ— good evil is present and too often prevalent with us Brethren in the Bowels of Christ Jesus I beseech you consider how large an Indictment of this nature Conscience has on record against us We can't plead ignorance as some others it may be hope to do We have or might have known our Master's Will He hath not left us one Talent only but all the Treasures of his House the unsearchable riches of his Gospel He hath not left us as some small Legatees but Heirs and Executors of his whole Will and Testament and now what have we to shew for all this Here we have been wrangling about Circumstances and Administrations despising or envying one anothers portion so have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness On where 's the Improvement where 's the Encrease the Advantage that God will shortly call for Remember what was Laodicea's temper and what was Laodicea's curse Oh this wretched this cursed lukewarmness how dear is it like to cost us By that time we have discounted what we have lâ—â— pass through invincible nay shall I add through affected and gross Ignorance how many gracious demands have we wickedly repell'd because of some distastful or flesh-displeasing difficulty that seem'd to attend it how might God dispatch his Angels with warrants of Contempt against us Oh what can Conscience say han't we easily granted the Devil what we have stiffly denied Christ and begrutcht God what we have willingly and prodigally bestowed on our Lusts ah how should these things pierce our Souls to consider Again by that time we have abstracted all that we have lost of that which we have done through sinful miscarriages in the manner or in the end how very little will it be that we have been found faithful and diligent in 3. In respect of Commission What black Legions will there meet us here If we look no further than our Hearts what an Abyss of Filth and Deceit shall we find there Our guilty Eyes have been as it were in covenant with Lust What endless Catalogues are our Tongues convicted of Can we wash our Hands in Innocency how justly may we hold them up at Gods Barr The miserable abuse of our Time The evil Examples we have laid as snares for others I am numbring now by Thousands and Millions Oh our Pride our Worldliness our Self-endedness our Censoriousness our Impatience these are some of the Generals under whose arbitrary Command we have yielded up our selves into subjection Lord what sad work have we made whither should we wander were it not for thy Shepherds Crook what tears of bloud are sufficient to testifie a Repentance answerable to such Guilt oh that God would prevail with me and you and every one of his People to take these things into deeper consideration than ever yet we have done Now that God is not only warning us with
were we picking What Divisions were we running amongst our selves When there were none to fall out with us we began to fall out with one another and to smite our fellow-servants and therefore is God justly fallen out with us We have stript our own Peace to feather our Nests and now Behold we cannot sit warm in them 3. Our Plenty How fat and wanton are we grown puft up with the conceit of our own strength God hath filled our Barns and laden the Earth with his Mercies and with the Fool we have been ready to say Soul take thine ease Mercies are never more fouly abused than when most freely bestowed What hath God had of all our increase When thou shalt have eaten and be full then beware lesâ— thou forget the Lord Deut. 6.11 12. God hath found that grosse feeding doth produce ill humours and grosse miscarriages As they were increased so they sinned against me Hos 4.7 And therefore he is fain to keep us low I might also mind you of your Priviledges and deliverances extraordinary Hath God never rescued you from the very brink of the grave and reacht you his hand when you were just sinking Hath he never over-answered your Prayers and gone beyond your Faith and Hopes Have you never seen him stepping out of his common way and as it were breaking the bedge of Nature and Reason to haste to your help that you have been forc't to say This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes Psal 118 23. And do you think this will be forgotten in the day account What wonders of Providence did God work for Israel from Egypt till they came into the Land of Promise But Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but provoked him at the Sea even the Red-Rea They soon forgot his works they waited not for his counsells Psal 106.7 13. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them and overthrew them in the wilderness ver 26. The abuse of extraordinary Providences whether of Mercy or Judgment on our selves or others for our warning is commonly attended with extraordinary vengeance 2. Your spiritual Priviledges and these are either External or Internal External as 1. Our Ministry is one of your Talents which you as well as we must shortly give an account for This seems to be one special voice of the Rod and that which it chiefly aims at This is one of the main Bones that God hath broken the principal vein that he hath struck us in and therefore our search and attention here should be the more serious and solemne Remember now with what careless customary Indifferency you have bin wont to hear with what drowsy dead secure affections with what unbelief irreverence hypocrifie with what a divided worldly and wandring spirit with what inconsiderate blind zeal Christianl reason thus with thy self what an excellent favour is this that I have thus long enjoyed What way could the poor blind world have grop't out to get to Heaven by what shift could we have made Must not I and all the world with me of necessity have perished to all eternity had it not bin for Christ and the blessed manifestation of his Gospel the bringing in of a better Hope for Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 And if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that be lost 2 Cor. 4 3. And now what have I done How can I answer for what I have received of this Talent Thus long have I lived under such a mans Ministry and thus long under anothers Besides all those occasional advantages which have been very frequent and precious With what preparation With what care With what humility and self-denyal With what resolution and purpose of heart have I sought God and the everlasting happiness of my own Soul in the injoyment of such Mercies To what purpose hath been all my hearing and praying hitherto Ah! What work have you here to deal plainly with your selves in How might your thoughts run into particulars and every stone you turn â—fford you matter of Lamentation I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus sake let not â—our ears be both the Cradles and the Graves â—f these proposed Confiderations oh let me â—oe open to your eyes only and the curiosity of your ears and censures and pack all up again without any hopes of trading with your hearts This is none of mine but Gods errand I am â—ent in the fruit of his tender care and comâ—assion of your souls Oh let it not return â—mpty from whence it came let me not carry 〈◊〉 back in witness of your ungrateful refusal God will shortly come to reckon with you himself he hath sent me but a little before as the â—oice of one crying in the Wilderness to warn â—ou to prepare his Way and to make his â—iths strait And remember Let Consciâ—nce set it down that this day you have been warned 2. The Sacraments are another and no â—mall part of your Talent How shall we take â—he weight and worth of this Priviledge All â—he World and a thousand more such will never move the Scales against it Oh the height â—nd depth and length and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus How might we begin â—fresh to reckon with our hearts here Have you been some of Gods invited Guests that â—ave eaten and drunk at his Table and fed upon â—is Body and Blood Consider then 1. What you have done Have you fed on â—arist like children at his Breasts or prey'd like Vultures on his Flesh and Blood The evidence is clear concerning the Fact you can't deny but that you have eaten at his Table you have had your share and you must expect your Reck'ning 'T is no ordinary fare you have fed upon and you may expect that the account will be some way answerable Salvation or Damnation will be the summ total of your Bill of Fare Sacraments are chargeable Dishes It cost the Great Master of these Sacred Feasts dear his dearest and only Son and the Feast-holder himself his dearest Blood And do you think to sit at these Tables at the same rate as at the Ordinary of the World What! think you to plead your Foederal and Evangelical Right by the seal of the first Sacrament that gave you visible Title to the second Ah but what if this should but aggravate the business Need I tell you that the first admission was upon terms and what these terms were Were you admitted into the Family of God and not bound to the Laws and Discipline of the Family Know my brethren that there was a mutual stipulation in your first Baptismal Adoption Surely 't is no small affront for a Dog to lap of the Master's choiseâ— dish and at the Table of his most solemn Feast though they belong as Dogs to the Family anâ— go in and out at the same door with the children Oh Sirs there are high things that we aâ— stand chargeable
Victory But alas What hath the next Spring produced Han't the same weeds appeared again which you thought you had been for ever rid of What 's the reason tâ—ink you Were not part of the roots left behind which while the nipping Winter of some Affliction or Conviction lasted you hop't had been dying never to revive more but yet were all the while but strengthening themselves at the root preparing for another Spring O what sad work do we make our selves for lack of a more faithful watch against the first appearances of evil 2. Watch against the Acts of sin Sin in the heart grieves the Spirit but sin in the act dishonours thy Profession A fool saies Solomon layeth open his folly Take heed of playing the fools in Religion Remember your Conversations are of high consequence The honour of the everlasting God and the Crown and Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour are interessed in it The eyes of Men and Devils are upon you to watch and to catch all advantages to reproach and blaspheme the name of God on your account Nay let me tell you the eyes of God and Angels are upon you too watching you into every corner into your closets and into your callings in your lying down and in your rising up in your beds and in your fields Every word and every motion nay every thought and inclination the very Embryo of our confused Imaginations are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 opened or anatomized unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4.13 Oh with what watchful prudence should Christians carry themselves in all places and in all relations Set a Porter at the doors of your lips make a covenant with your eyes enter into interchang'd Indentures with your hearts fetter up your wanton wandring self-law'd wills and affections swear every fatulty every member and limb in faithful Allegiance unto God and Christ and solemnly â—â—bjure all other Covenants or Complyances If you will walk aright you must walk by line and by Rule Your sins my brethren are like the sons of Anak amongst your enemies Every â—ffence of yours is another Gyant prest for the Devils service against God and your own Souls These are the Goliah's they triumph and vaunt themselves in O let it not be told in Gath nor published in the streets of Aâ—kalon 3. Watch against the Temptations to sin Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Matth. 26.41 Nay is it not your daily prayer Lead us not into temptation oh let it be your daily watch too My son if Sinners â—ntice thee consent thou not Prov. 1.10 We â—ive in an enticing world and in enticing times every danger is enticing us our hopes fears and straits are enticing us the snares of Hell are set for us on every side snares without and snares within us temptations of all kinds and siz's The Devil hath spread his nets for every constitution for every sense nay for grace and in every estate and in every dutie If you are full Pride or worldliness or sensuâ—lity is his snare if you are empty Murmuâ—ing impatience discontent immoderate care â—r any unlawful course is his snare He hath a â—rap for every affection If you are angry revenge is his snare if you are merry excess is his snare Fain would I warn you of every Rock and of every Shoal that might endanger you of every false Star and wandring light that might possibly seduce you of every Bivium Creek and turning in your way But the burden is too heavy for me every day brings in new experiences as Christ saies of the Father and of himself Joh. 5.17 The Father worketh hitherto and I work every day producing new mercies and providences so may we say The Devil worketh hitherto and his children work every hour is in travel with new temptations And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the Power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Eph. 2.2 Therefore what I cannot tell you positively let me tell you negatively Take heed of setting one foot out of that way which you know to be the right way of putting forth your hands unto iniquitie whatsoever hath not the Image and Superscription of God and the Seal of his Spirit upon it Remember He that doubteth is damned if he eat Rom 14 23. To go without the light of Conscience is next to going against its light take heed how you like that that is not like Christ or force Conscience when it is at a stand Be sure you step not beyond your clear Command and promise of Protection 4. Watch against all the Occasions that may lead you into temptation Look not thou on the Wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup Pro. 23.31 Hating even the garment spotted by the Flesh Jude v. 23. whatsoever hath the tincture or shew of sin upon it Abstain from all appearance of evil saith the Apostle 1 Thes 5.22 Whatsoever is likely to ensnare you Alas Christians You know not how dearly you may smart for that which in its self you may account tolerable and indifferent If once you venture beyond your Warrant you know not whither you may ramble The waies of sin are dark and headâ—â—ng-waies Her house is in the way to Hell â—oing down to the chambers of death Prov. â— 27 The way to Hell is down-stairs Here â—ethinks I would tell you of several things â—hat may lead you into temptation but I dare â—ot enlarge my Digressions Your letting down of close communion with God Your enterpriâ—ing of any business spiritual or secular without asking counsel or craving assistance of God â—very step in any way wherein your selves or â—thers for your warning have been formerâ—â— ensnared c. These things with divers â—thers I might have more fully dilated but I asten 2. Set a watch against Satan Learn to pay â—m home in his own coin He hath set a strait â—atch upon you a watch to tempt you and a â—atch to accuse you He goes from Dutie to â—utie from corner to corner with you and is alwaies at your right hand to watch you to disturb your thoughts to quench your affections and to pick matters of accusation As you write what you hear so he has his Note-book too and writes How you hear and pray and spend your Sabbaths and Societies and as far as he can guess where your hearts and what your ends are too Oh! If this Conviction could but take with you what care would it beget in you Blessed be God that though he watch us yet he can't discover us or though he discover yet can't discourage us though we are his Envie yet we are noâ— his Prey 3. Be sure Set a strong watch against Self Here is thy greatest Enemie This home-bredâ— Traitour this betraying Judas which the greater part of the world