appointed to all men once to dye but when God seems to catch them up in haste and to gather them by whole Clusters and that in the midst of their strength and service this is an ordinary Prognostick of approaching Judgment Gods withdrawing his presence is another sign that he hath a rod a making When he hath shut himself up and will not be spoken with I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offence and seek my face in their affliction they will seek me early Hos 5.15 This was the case with the Spouse Cant. 5.6 7. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and what then The watchmen that went about the City found me they smote me they wounded me the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me c. When God sayes to his Moses Let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them Exod. 32.10 Pray not thou for this people neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee Jer. 7.16 And what this did presage you may see Jer. 11.14 Pray not thou for this people c. for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble And chap. 14.11 Pray not for this people for their good when they fast I will not hear their cry c. but I will consume them by the sword by the famine and by the pestilence Then said I Ah Lord God! the Prophets say unto them ye shall not see the sword c. Then the Lord said unto me both the Prophets and the people that believe them shall know that my word shall stand both the Flatterers and the Flattered shall perish together O England know it must not be as thy Prophets but as thy God will 3. Gods crossing the course of Nature is another sign that Judgment is hastning Numb 17.8 we read that Aarons Rod budded and blossomed and bare almonds and what was this a dumb sign No verse 10 And the Lord said unto Moses Bring Aarons Rod again before the Testimony to be kept for a token against the rebells c. What did all those prodigious signs which God wrought in Egypt portend I need not tell you What did the hand-writing on Belshazzars wall point at Dan. 5. Our Saviour himself argues a necessary connection between signes in the Sun and Moon and Starrs and upon earth distress with perplexity Luk. 21.25 And that which was here particularly intended was afterward fully accomplished by Titus Vespasian on Jerusalem that Abomination of Desolation being usher'd in by a multitude of signs and wonders as Christ had foretold and credible History doth abundantly certifie 4. A gradual beginning of Judgment is another presage that the full blow is coming God doth usually send some drops as the Harbingers of the storm of his wrath and layes not on with his full might at once lest he should crush us to pieces but he chides before he strikes and begins with gentler strokes and every stroke calls louder and louder for repentance as being loath to strike harder than needs he must First he removes from the Cherub to the threshold Ezek. 9.3 and there turns again and reasons the case and takes notice of every weeping eye and every sad heart Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh Then from the threshold to the cherubims chap. 10.18 and then falls a threatning and a promising Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the Countries where they shall come At last from the Cherubims he departed to the Mountains chap. 11.23 and thence he useth the utmost importunity if at length by any means he might reclaim and spare them Chap. 12.3 Therefore thou son of man prepare thee stuff for removing and remove by day in their sight It may be they will consider though they be a rebellious house Many shall come in my name sayes Christ saying I am Christ and shall deceive many and ye shall hear of warrs c. Nation shall arise against nation these are the beginning of sorrows Matth. 24.5 to 8. Now the beginning argues both the middle and the end to succeed 5. The joint cryes and warnings of the Prophets is another symptom of approaching misery These are called Gods Watchmen and his Seer Son of man I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel therefore hear the word at my mouth and give them warning from me Ezek. 3.17 I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower to see what he will say unto me and what I shall answer c. Hab. 2.1 God doth usually reveal his purpose first to them that they may publish it unto whom it doth concern and therefore he adds vers 2. Write the vision and make it plain that he may run that readeth it We are his Ambassadors and Heraulds he is wont to send out his Summons and bid battel by us When those Turtles which were wont to bring you the Olive-branch of peace the glad tidings of the Gospel come with a sword in their mouths be confident there is war preparing in heaven 2. Other grounds of Conjecture are drawn from man as 1. When sin is on the thriving hand God hath a double harvest a harvest of wheat and a harvest of tares and he will have both ripe before he cut them down the harvest of his Grace must be ripe before he will send in his Sickle Grace must have its full growth Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age like as a shock of corn commeth in his season And the harvest of his wrath must be ripe too Put ye in the Sickle for the harvest is ripe the press is full their wickedness is great Joel 3.13 So that we may conclude according to Christs Parable of the Fig-tree Matth. 24.32 When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves ye know that Summer is nigh 'T was sin that first opened the womb of misery and 't is sin that ripens and hastens Judgment Sin and suffering have the measures of their growth proportionable as the one ripens so doth the other too Now consider this ye that forget God your treasuring up of sin is a treasuring up of wrath unto your selves against the day of Gods wrath Rom. 2.5 O that blind sinners could but see what they are doing Tophet is ordained of old the pile thereof is fire and much wood Isa 30.33 Every sin brings its faggot to this pile Little did Perillus think what he was a doing when he was forging the Tyrant Phalaris his curious Instrument of Cruelty â—â—th 12.36 â— 4.24 â— 4.17 Every idle word every vain thought every neglect of a known duty like so many Infernal Locusts are daily flying from the dead carcase of thy heart where they breed unto the hive of a sad eternity crura veneno plena and
disbanded and cast out of the Service for ever like one of Gideon's supernumerary Cowards and what then He that is not with me is against me Secondly It argues thy mercenary hopes as well as thy slavish fear and what thou dost at last shouldâ—st thou make good thy glorying would appear to proceed from no Love or Loyalty to thy Captain or to thy Cause out a servile and base fear of losing the glory or advantage of the Victory and how little art thou like to be thankt for such service Lastly It seems very irrational nay somewhat impossible to â—ring thy boasting to pass For If thou hast run with the Footmen and they have wearied thee â—hen how canst thou contend with horses Jer. 〈◊〉 2.5 How canst thou think to bear blows that â—â—t not able to stand under a frown Is the greatâ—r more tolerable than the less Sure if à minori â—â—d majus be true arguing thou wilt be deceived Thou art commanded to lay aside every weight 〈◊〉 that hinders thee and run with Patience Heb. 〈◊〉 2.1 and dost thou think to tugg it along till â—â—y back break under it and the Prize be won What will running avail thee when the Race 〈◊〉 over Once behind hand and ever behind and. When thy Vessel is sull and begins to sink then 't will be time to shuffle thy undoing wares over-board That the Afflictions wherewith God Exerciseth his People Doct. 2 are but Rods. I have gone beyond my purpose on the first Doctrine therefore shall be the more succinct here where I have but these three things to do 1. I shall shew you that they are Rods and but Rods. 2. What Rods they are 3. Apply it That they are Rods and but Rods appears 1. Because they are so called in Scripture Psal 89.32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripeâ—â— and Psal 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous â—â— and Isa 10.5 O Assyrian the Rod of miâ—â— Anger c. 2. God useth them to no other end about his people but as Rods. Solomon tells us what thâ— end and use of the Rod is Prov. 22.15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child but the râ—â— of correction shall drive it from him This is thâ— very design of the Rod in Question Zion shâ—â— be plowed like a field Jer. 26.18 You know what Plowing means though it be to lay the firâ—â— fallow a while yet it is in order to a Crop Thâ— Plow is an Instrument of Husbandry where 〈◊〉 see God's Plow we may conclude he intends boâ—â— the Seed and the Harvest in their Season I know there is a vast odds between 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amending and avenging curing and cursing oâ— Person or People but we are speaking of such afflictions as are common to the people of God as such whether personal or natural of which the Apostle speaks Heb. 12.10 11. For they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness for no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness 3. God dealeth with the Instruments as with Rods. When the Child is sufficiently beaten the Rod is burnt or laid aside 2 Thess 1.6 It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you This was the end of the Egyptian rod as you may read at large Exod. 14. So God dealt with the Assyrian the rod of his Anger Isa 10.27 And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder and his yoke from off thy neck and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing When Gods areing time is over he will burn the yoke that sate too heavy and gall'd the necks of his children when the long Furrows are turn'd and the seed is in and covered he will drive off the Beasts and they shall oppress no more but be fed for the day of slaughter 2. The second thing proposed was to shew you what Rods these are This I shall do under these three heads 1. In themselves 2. With relation to our sins 3. In respect of Gods ends in them In themselves they may be 1. Sharp rods No chastening for the present or in its self seemeth joyous but grievous Affliction is the burden and distress of Nature Every Cross hath its nails with it according to its kind and degree yet God hath some greater and sharper than others that will not only scratch the skin but tear the flesh and break the bones All his rods are not of a size that he may proportion himself to the strength of the Offendent and the height of the Offence God may set a Bramble over thee and hedge thee about with Thorns Wonder not Christian if the Rod smart that is dipt in the Guilt of sin and Divine displeasure 2. Long Rods. Such as may reach over all thy comforts all thy hopes all thy contentments Such was Job's case trouble on every hand within door and without God may lay thee out in such a storm as shall swill thee from head to foot and leave thee never a dry thread nay he may wrap up thy spiritual peace in the same plight too and make thee cry out with David All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me Psal 42.7 The Cloud may overspread thy whole Horizon in all the parts and dimensions of it Sometimes God cuts his Rod so long that it shall reach from thy Cradle to thy Grave â—â— nay he hath a rod that is as long as Eterning it self which is the rod he hath laid up for his Enemies 3. Strong rods Such as thou canst neither stand against nor stand under that will make thee yield and stoop to them Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop Pro. 12.25 God may bring such an evil upon thee and lay his Siege so close at thee that thou shalt not be able to escape as he threatned Jerem. 11.11 The weakness of God is stronger than men 1 Cor. 1.25 Who can contend with the Almighty or quench the flames of Consuming fire He is wise in heart and mighty in strength Who hath hardned himself against him and hath prospered Job 9.4 God will draw his arrow so deep that it shall be sure to â—each home and strike its mark though ten thousands stand in his way though Earth and Hell conspite with their utmost skill and power yet there 's no resisting of his absolute will and purpose nor turning him from his designed end or means Both his work and his way are irresistable 2. With relation to our sins they are 1. Short rods Sin is of an infinite extent had not God set its bounds it would run parallel with â—ternity Nay in some respect it is actually
of a Souldier anâ— the visible witnesses of his valour and his vâ—â—lour the Crown of his honour 5. 'T is a Victorious Cross In this War thâ— conquered conquers Patiendo non resistendo Aug. Euseb l 4. Hist c. 13. and patience only wins thâ— field Christianos victores evadere dum mâ—â— malunt pro sua Religione qudm Imperatorum 〈◊〉 ctis parere That the Christians became Coâ—â— querours while they chose to dye for their 〈◊〉 ligion rather than to obey the Edicts of 〈◊〉 Emperours Anton. Imp. was confest by an Heathen Eâ—â— perour himself 2. To kiss the rod. Kiss the son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 Kissing imports Salutation 〈◊〉 welcom entertaining of a person or thing â—â—luntary submission to it and a full and free 〈◊〉 conciliation with it Can you will you thâ— kiss the rod not only in the Author or Efficient but in the Instruments or second Causes of it It is not sufficient that the child kiss his Father that corrects him but he must kiss the rod too But to prevent an Objection or a Mistake here I must add That God doth not expect nay he will not that his children should kiss the rod on any other account but as they are rods in their Fathers hands Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness nor with the workers themselves farther than the Law of God and Nature do allow or the Christian duty toward their Souls requires Take heed of striking hands with the Gibeonites of complying or compounding with the rod. 3. To improve the Rod. To this end walk with God under it and wait upon God in it When the Streams run foul below draw up to the Fountain and dwell there If the Floods be upon the Earth repair with the Dove to the Ark where thou mayst be at rest Walk with God in his way and by his Rule when he is not pleased to walk with thee in thy way and by thy rule Then is the rod improv'd when it touches with God's design You have heard they are Teaching Rods oh learn by them Establishing Rods oh take root under them Comforting Rods oh suck out the marrow of these bones Feeding Rods oh shut not the mouth too fast against them Let them in and set them down and digest them when God offers them and so your growth and improvement shall abundantly appear I am fain to post over these things that I may not be prevented in what I chiefly aim at If it be but a Rod Use 3 and the Rod of Fatherly Discipline and Love then Christian let me offer these three rich Cordials to refresh thy spirits in such a case 1. It proves thy Adoption And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries which is to them an evident token of Perdition but to you of Salvation and that of God Phil. 1.28 If ye endure chastning God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not Heb. 12.7 But Solomon tells us Ob. Eccles 9.1 that no man knoweth love or hatred by all that is before him How then shall I know what or when afflictions are conclusive of Adoption 'T is true Answ 1 God is not wont to set his Seal to Blanks but where Adoption is this is one Seal or Evidence of it No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before him if he hath nothing else to know it by this is no adaequate but an assistant or completive Evidence These Evidences are not so discernable Coming Answ 2 as Going When David had gotten through he looks back and concludes It is good for me that I have been afflicted We may judge something from the Cause for which and the Instruments by which we suffer but most safely from the work and operation oâ— them the manner nature and fruit of their working Then doth the Physick promise a Recovery when it kindly works upon and forcibly works off the Cause of the Disease The teaching establishing comforting feeding improving and improved Rod is the restoring and sealing Rod. But when it works the contrary as on too many it doth and like the Troubled Sea casts up mire and dirt or but at halves when it stirs the Pool and causeth sin to come in remembrance and makes the Soul it may be stomach-sick but carries it not off in this case in this sad case it seals too but as to thine Adversaries It is an evident token of perdition 2. It seals to thy Portion It is a faithful saying For if we be dead with him we shall also live with him if we suffer we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2.11 12. Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee sayes Peter what shall we have therefore Verily I say unto you sayes Christ that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration in the work the duties and difficulties of Regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his Glory ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel Matth. 19.27 28. This is the day of thy labour and every stroke thou strikest in it is in earnest of thy Rest As sure as thou seest the Sun shining in the Heavens the Evening is at hand which shall crown thy dayes work For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have shewed toward his name Heb. 6.10 Bear up your spirits then He that hath espoused you will shortly marry you and celebrate your blessed and glorious Nuptials in the house and kingdom of his Father for ever O the ravishing Songs the joyful Epithalamiums that shall then be sung He that hath hired you will surely and fully reward you when you shall know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1.18 Though thou art sweating toyling suffering sighing weeping now by this thou mayest know that thy rest remaineth 3. It works for thy good And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose Rom. 8.28 All these things which seem to be against thee are directly making for thee God is now emptying thee from vessel to vessel that thou mayest not settle on thy lees that thy old tast may not remain in thee that thy scent may be changed and thou mayest be prepared for the Cup and Table of his Glory He would never thus winnow and grind thee but that he might have thee nearer to him and make of thee Savoury meat such as he loveth and feast himself with thee to all eternity Nay it makes for thy present good The tryed Silver is now Current Coyn and they that scrupled at it before that call'd it Brass base and counterfeit Metal that scour'd it cut it and curst it and blasphem'd the sacred Stamp and Coiner of it are now asham'd of themselves and glad would they be Math. 25.8
I say for these Characters will never be expung'd those leaves but by the same Divine hand that ingraved them If thou hast not substituted the Lyes and Impostures of thy own deceived heart but wilt be faithful and ingenuous here thou shalt find a true and plain interpretation of Providence We may not expect that God should speak to us immediately from Heaven vivâ voce or by any miraculous Revelations or Enthusiasms as some giddy Brains would pretend unto this were indeed Phanaticism nomine re But The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart The Word speaks and the Rod speaks and Conscience will compare these together and from thence draw up a full and perfect Declaration and both prove examine and answer every Article of it if it may but be suffer'd to execute its office in you The great reason why we are such strangers to God is because we are such strangers to our selves Nemo is sese tentat descendere nemo Pers Affliction hath a great I fluence as on the other powers of the Soul so especially on the Conscience either to soften or to fear it Every stroke on Pharaoh left him harder and harder Why will ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more But where the rod is intended for good and works toward that End there it softens and quickens the Conscience What a blessed effect had that Rout at Ai on Joshua and his people Josh. 7. They presently fly to God to know the Cause and as soon as ever the thing was hinted to them how industrious and restless were they till they had found out the very Man and executed Gods Law upon him and so remov'd the Guilt and the Wrath â—om Israel oh that God would once set our Troubled Camp on the like course in a like general sincere and effectual manner Manaseh's Fetters was that softned Manasseh's Conscience a Chro. 33.11 12. 'T was Neâ—uchadnezzar's affliction that humbled his â—roud hear Dan. 4.33 34. 'T was the stroak â—rom Heaven that opened Saul's eyes Act. 9. 〈◊〉 Christians take heed of hardning your â—earts under the Rod an affliction is never removed but it leaves either a curse or a blessing behind it Therefore whenever God takes his rod over you or layes it on upon â—â—ou as you respect the spiritual and eternal â—â—ace and welfare of your poor souls awake â—our Consciences and find out the Cause and â—â—e Meaning of it 'T is not enough to groan and mourn under the burden this is but Naâ—â—re's common course which if this be all is 〈◊〉 Gods account but as the ungrateful howling 〈◊〉 a Dog Hos 7.14 Nay it is not enough neither to bewail any external though spiritual â—â—ss for if this be all that your care and â—oughts are taken up about those that sate at â—â—e door of the gate of the Lords house weeping 〈◊〉 Tammuz Ezek. 8.14 were almost as â—â—ligious 〈◊〉 you Take this for a second Direction Set Conscience on work and that 〈◊〉 a lively impartial and regular way acquainâ— your selves with Gods and know upon what termes he is with you O my brethren theâ— is a great deal of self trying and self doâ—ying work before you But how Conscient is to be put to it in this duty I shall shew yâ—â— more at large hereafter 3. Though the Rod may be general yet tâ—â— Voice is particular Besides those more private and personal evils that every Town Congregation Trade Family or Person are conplaining under there are National and Pâ—â—lick miseries which are the common Calamites wherein every individual Member is particularly concern'd and so the voice directs its 〈◊〉 stinct and particular Items to every one paâ—â—cularly and to every one it sutes it self seasonably and proportionably It is a voice of Humiliation to my Pride of Mortification to tâ—â— Covetousness of Self-denial to the Lust and Revenge of another of Quickning to tâ—â— Negligence and Cowardice of another 〈◊〉 Establishment to the Haesitation and Unresolvedness of another of Peaceableness and Charity to the Tumultuousness and Censoriousness of another c. And to one it speaks with more terrour and dread to another in calmer and sweeter Dialect according to the nature and height of that guilt or corruption 〈◊〉 aims at Therefore reason thus with your selves God hath now taken up his Rod and is comet plead with me though the lash fall more 〈◊〉 verely on others yet I am in the same Condemnation and am as much concerned as ever those were that are now lying in heaps at 〈◊〉 feet oh how shall I how dare I think of running from or justifying my self before God! hay a provoked and an avenging God Alas Christians mistake not 'T is not so much for the Oaths and Blasphemies the Drunkenness and Sodomie the Sabbath-Breaking and Idolatry of Gods enemies those sons of Belial that are among us that God hath taken up this Controversie with us he hath I will not say a few but many things against us 'T is for my sin and for your sins that God hath torn up our hedge and thrown down our wall and laid us waste As Mr. Bradford that blessed Martyr acknowledged in his Prayer Lord it was my unthankfulness that brought in Queen Maries daye it was my unfruitfulness that caused the untimely death of King Edward the 6th And those Christians that were banished and fled in Queen Maries dayes professed where-ever they came that God for their unthankfulness had taken the Gospel from them If then you would learn the language of the Rod and understand the meaning of it take this for another Rule with you Believe it that God is now speaking from Heaven to you to me and to thee in particular oh what an awe and dread should this cast upon us Suppose you should hear God calling out of Heaven to you by name what a dismal astonishment would â— strike you into why Man what dost thou think Is the Lords Rod a dumbrod or else hath it nothing to say to Thee because possibly as yet it hath not much to do with thee or is this a feigned Message an Errand of my own that I am now come from God unto thee in Do'st thou believe I am forcing thee with a lye or else is it true what I say Well then if the aim and level of the Rod be at thee and at me in particular is it not time for us to hear lay it to heart Shall the arrows of Gods a venging Fury strike us through the very heart before we will be perswaded to look for the sin or the guilt there O my brethren we stand Gods Butt this day and be sure that either in your Lusts or your Lives he will shortly his you out 't is not the White which men shoot at but the Black that God levels at O separate separate your selves that you be not found anon among the slain of Gods Battel 'T is not Covenant-Interest shall excuse you here
to the Person or â—ubject will seem to proselyte themselves to â—ch or such a ones devotion Others more â—r Novelty than for their Understanding or â—onscience-sake tumble over one page after â—other and when all is done can say they â—ve read it but are as wise as the Moths those â—elluones Librorum that feed upon them Oh â—ow few are there that like Bees extract the â—eetness and service of those Flowers Where â—e the Combs you have fashion'd and the â—ore you have treasur'd for a spending time â—here are the Convictions the Resolutions 〈◊〉 Affections they have wrought on your hearts and lives What pains and watchingâ— and care and cost and hazzards have those eminent servants of God been at and all aâ— the abused issue hath proved but to feed youâ— fancies and to expose themselves to your censures and Critical castigations Questionless there is no small guilt in the Records of Heaven against us on this account It is not foâ— nothing that God hath set Watchers over us anâ— a Flaming Sword to keep the way of this Treâ— of Life 2. Your Internal Priviledges the stirrings and operations of the Spirit in you this wilâ— come into account too at last 1. Your Convictions How often hath thâ— Spirit of God wrestled with you till you haâ— been forced to yield how often hath Goâ— brought you to your knees and made you confess before him and what woful shifts have you made to quench the Spirit again Han't you been like water forced against the stream thaâ— hath broken down and swollen over all thâ— Baies and Damms that have stood before it Don't you find that Convictions are hardâ— to be wrought now than once they were thâ— ordinary things do less affect you than theâ— were wont to do or are more ineffectuaâ— and fruitless than they were wont to be And is there no matter of sorrow and lamentation in all this 2. Your Refolutions Hâ—n't these been likâ— the Spider's Webb spun out of your own Bowels and have been broken by every finger of temptation Han't God been often dishoâ—oured and your selves deceived by your â—ight rash and half resolutions Are you not â—ham'd to think to how little purpose you â—ave been so long a purposing When are you â—ke to be settled in that you have been once â—nd again resolving on 3. Your Vowes Are not the Vowes of the â—ord upon you Han't you been often plighting â—our troth with him May not God sue you â—or your Faith Love and Obedience upon that â—pecialty you have given him under your own â—ands and seals Now consider how faithful â—ave you been in performing your Oaths unto God Have you walked as those that are in â—ecial Covenant with him What a tie hath â—is been upon you against all assaults what stay hath it been when your feet have been â—ding oh my Brethren Han't God much 〈◊〉 lay to our charge concerning our Vowes and â—ovenants Look back on your dayes of calaâ—itie on your sick-beds when you were in the â—tterness and anguish of your souls on your â—nvictions and desertions when the sense of â—vine wrath and intolerable guilt lay upon â—u was there nothing past between God and â—u then that 's worth your remembrance and â—lls for tears afresh now Surely now that â—od is visiting for these things 't is time for us 〈◊〉 consider 4. Your Comforts Those reviving Cordials â—at have so often fetchâ— life into your dying â—pes with what thankfulness have you entertain'd them with what faithfulness have yoâ— reserv'd and stor'd them up for standing experiences to support you in future dangers fears or miseries Christian what is it thaâ— comforts thee most Is it the hope of a temporal deliverance of better times and greaten freedom and peace Why these are the thing that natural and carnal men are wont to comfort themselves with In the Lord put I mâ— trust sayes David how say ye then to mâ— soul flee as a bird to your mountain Psaâ— 11.1 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope Thâ— is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hatâ— quickned me Psal 119.49 50. Here aâ— three things which contribute to David comfort in his affliction 1. The Promise 〈◊〉 the Word the ground of his hope 2. His relation as servant unto God the ground of hâ— proprietie or right to the Promise 3. Thâ— Influence of the Word through the quickniâ—â— co-operation of the Spirit 'T is not enough that there is a word of Promise made to us unless the condition of the Promise be wrough in us and the Spirit quicken us to apply thâ— Promise too Comforts drawn from a Promisâ— without the Condition of the Promise are bâ— stollen Comforts and a Promise without the Spirit to quicken and apply it is but liâ— a Hony-comb in the mouth of a dead man thâ— hath not strength to draw it 1. Consider of what nature are your comforts Are they earthly or spiritual Comforts Where is it you are wont to retire and to take â—ctuarie in your fears and dangers Are you 〈◊〉 ready to answer with David In the Lord 〈◊〉 I my trust But what 's that thou findest in â—d that comforts thee You will say His â—ributes and Promise you know that he â—ble and ready to help and hath promised â—o do in a time of trouble Yet this is not to 〈◊〉 Question This shews the ground of your â—forts but not the nature of them You 〈◊〉 guess at the nature of your comforts by 〈◊〉 inward fears and troubles of what kind these Are they the concernments of God 〈◊〉 Christ and your own souls or your exâ—al and private interest that you are so tenâ— of Don't the hopes of your deliverance 〈◊〉 the Rod affect and rejoyce you more than 〈◊〉 hopes you have of being better'd by the 〈◊〉 Alas Christian I God will have thee yet 〈◊〉 spiritual he intends to wean thee from self and to make the concerns of his Glory thy own Soul yet more precious with thee â—true there 's comfort in every good and 〈◊〉 Creature of God is to be refused 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 so neither the comfort that issues from it look of what nature the Good is of the 〈◊〉 nature in its self is the comfort that â—gets It is thy highest Good that afâ— thy highest comfort So that hence you judge of your choice and consequently of present Estate and future Portion accorâ—â— to such Estate Consider of what ground and sufficiencie are thy comforts what weight do theâ— make against all thy discomforts Are they suâ— as proceed from a true and lively Faith aâ— the Spirit the Comforter or are they bred 〈◊〉 the knees of thy carnal Reason and bliâ— Hopes The strength of thy Comfort will 〈◊〉 much according to the strength of thy Faiâ—â— Rom. 15.13 1 Pet. 1.8 and the fulness 〈◊〉 thy Joyes according to the fulness and nearâ— of thy Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 Thy Common Reason and carnal Experienâ—
to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God Act. 5.38 39. We know who will one day bruise the Head and wound the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on in his trespasses Psal 68.21 And for your farther awakening Consider and know 1. That God will be too hard for your Power No weapon that is formed against thee â—hall prosper and every tongue that shall rise against thee in Judgment thou shalt condemn this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord Isa 54.17 He that can set the Starrs in Battel-array and cause them to fight from Heaven â—â—n their Courses against his Enemies Judg. 5.20 He that hath Legions of Angels at the Command of a word Matth. 26.53 He that hath given thee all that power thou hast thy â—ife and breath and beeing Act. 17.28 Will not such a God be too hard for thee Shall the dryed stubble contend with the whirlwind Who would set the briers and thorns against me â—n battel I would go through them I would burn them together Isa 27.4 Well Sinner â—s confident and as bold as thou art thou shalt after a few moments more know against what â—rresistable strength thou hast ingaged and remember thou hast been warn'd that our God is a consuming fire Heb. 12.29 Remember when thou art crying to the Hills to cover thee when thou art roaring under the vengeance of â—hat God against whom thou art now fighting When God is dealing dead Blows at thee remember that thou wert once warn'd nay thou shalt remember there 's one within thee shall bear record to Gods patience and to my duty and to thy shame and torment that thoâ— hast been fairly warn'd When the Plagues of a Just God are raining in fire and brimstone upon thee and there is no escape when 't is too late to deliver thy Soul then remember the time that thou wouldst not be perswaded 2. God will be too hard for your Policy Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces and give ear all ye of faâ—â— Countries Gird your selves and ye shall bâ— broken in pieces take Counsel together and 〈◊〉 shall come to nought speak the word and 〈◊〉 shall not stand for God is with us Isa 8.9 10. Associate your selves and take counseâ— together let the Assembly be full a general Convocation Gird your selves in Oath anâ— Interest as one man and gird your selves againâ— twist the Cords of Counsel revise and recognize your Debates and Results nay speaâ— the word and yet it shall not stand for God is with us God is an All-seeing and an Alâ— knowing as well as an Almighty God Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength Prov. 8.14 The Decreâ— of men are not in force with God till theâ— have past under the Broad Seal of Heaven Counsel is mine The Counsel that is not ferch from the God of Counsel is Madness and Folly and not Counsel Sinner let me tell thee thoughâ— thou hast hired the Dâ—vil for Counsel with the Fees of thy Soul yet all thy Counsel shall prove thy Confusion when the Cause shall be pleaded before the Judge of Quick and Dead Remember Balaam's Parable and take it for a Rule Surely there is no Enchantment against Jacob neither is there any Divination against Israel Numb 23.23 Who hath hardened himself against God and hath prospered Job 9.4 Ask Cain how he prosper'd against his Brother ask the old World how they prospered ask Pharaoh ask Sodom and Gomorrah nay ask the damned in Hell whether they have prospered whether ever they were too hard for God and within a few years more you may be able to tell me could I come to ask you that you have had as bad success as any of these 5. The fifth and last Voice of the Rod to the Enemies of God is to forewarn them that God is making short work with them 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 Oh that I could be heard while your hearing time holds oh that now at the eleventh hour I might perswade you to come into the Lords Vineyard and labour with us this one hour that is left that you may receive your penny with us at â—ight oh that these parting knocks might be heard that these last calls might have a willing and kind Answer How doth my Soul long for you Ah Sirs 't will be sad repenting in another world 't will be hard to bear what you cannot not then avoid Oh that I could wish you or weep you and pray you into Covenant with Christ A little while longer and you will wiâ—h as I do O that I had been wise while I might have been happy oh that I had been counselled and rul'd by those that wisht my Soul well even as their own Souls A few Sports more Sinner and then thou shalt play thy last Game Deceive and flatter thy self a little longer and then thou shalt be undeceived for ever Scorn us mock us persecute us a little longer and then thou shalt scorn us no more thou shalâ— mock nor persecute no more for ever Be wise now therefore O ye Kings and be instructed ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way When his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him Psal 2.10 11 12. The Lords wrath is kindled and that not a little 't is time to kiss the Son But Wiâ—â— you kiss him as Judas kiss'd his Master Wâ—â— wo be to thee it had been good for thee iâ— thou hadst never been born Oh how shâ—â—â— bespeak thee how shall I awaken thee Whaâ— meanest thou O sleeper Arise call upon thâ— God But for mâ— People and Country's sake I only with I might err in this part 〈◊〉 Vision The Cloud hangs black and heavy 〈◊〉 â—hee full of the wrath of God Warrs and Tumults and Rapines abroad Poverty and Pestâ—lence Muâ—muâ—ings Heart-burnings Jealousiâ—â— and Fears at home Misery and Ruin seem to be driving at us as Jehu towards Jezreal Wâ—â— knows what Desolâ—tions a year or two more may produce who can well what a day may bring forth The fire hath entred your dwellings and will you burn in your Beds God hath clasht the Bells of Nature nay and overturn'd the Bells of Aaron too and can none of these things affect us oh that God would now drive home and fasten these Nails upon you that he would graciously perswade you to hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it Proceed we now to answer one Query briefly How to Judge of the particular Voice of this or that particular Rod. And that I may commend the practice of this Search