diminish from it we may not close with added substantial parts of worship Whatever power a Church hath about natural Circumstances they have none about the substance of worship either to add or take away by putting in or putting out To add new Ordinances or parts of Worship is a breach of the second Commandment The Pharisees ered on this hand Mat. 15.19 teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men they pressed Gods Commandments as indifferent and mens Traditions as necessary God commanded to Honour Father and Mother they teach contrary to this ver 4. this was a diminishing They teach that the washing of hands before meat the cleansing of cups c. as necessary to Salvation this was to err by addition See Rev. 22.18 To add in God's Worship is to make our selves wiser than God and to accuse Christ of unfaithfulness in God's House Moses was a faithful Minister in God's House much more was he who was Mose's Master Well be sâ—re in all your worship that it be according to the Parâ—â—â— shewed in the Mount viz. according to â—he â—â—â—script and Standard of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 very dangerous to offer strange fiâ—â— such as God commands not Levit. 10.2 Give not God cause to say to any of us Who hath required this at your hands 8. Be spiritual and zealous in God's Service Take not God's Name in vain either by vain praying hearing or reading Bring your hearts to and keep them at prayer I will pray with my spirit Psal 25.1 Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Prayer consists more in the elevation of the understanding and desires than in the lifting up of the eyes and hands and so bring your hearts to the preaching and hearing of the Word Rom. 1.9 Paul served God with his spirit in preaching and we should serve God with our spirits in hearing When Paul preached Lydia's heart was opened that she attended to the things spoken by him Acts 16.14 When God's Embassadours deliver their Embassy imploy your understandings to discern your memories to retain your wills to choose your affections to love and delight in your consciences to apply what you hear And so sing Psalms with your heart as well as with your voice Col. 3.16 Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. God complains of those who bring their bodies before him but leave their hearts behind them Isa 29.13 They draw near me with their mouth and honour me with their lips but their heart is removed far from me this is a mocking of God Therefore be fervent in spirit when you serve the Lord rest not in bare enjoymment of the Means but get Grace by the Means Labour to enjoy the God of Ordinances in the Ordinances of God God is much displeased with eareless heartless and superficial worship If we offer ignorant heartless and distracted prayers will he accept them Cursed be the Deceiver that hath in his flock a Male and voweth and facrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.13 14. Well then rest not in a formal customary way of serving God serve him out of Conscience and give him your heart in every duty 9. Maintain an high esteem and make great Conscience of the Lords-Day Keep the whole day holy morning and evening It 's not said remember to keep part of the Sabbath Day But keep the Sabbath viz. the whole Sabbath holy sanctifie it in private as well as in publick in your own houses as well as in Gods House in your Closets as well as in your Families do not only keep a Rest but sanctifie that Rest How By Meditation meditate on the Sabbath of that Sabbatism that remains for the People of God Heb. 4.9 Muse upon the Joys of Heaven which are pure spiritual constant and perpetual Think of the sweet Company you shall have even Angels and Saints besides God and Christ whose Presence makes Heaven Dwell upon your Immunities and Freedom from Sin Temptations of Satan and the World from troubles as Sickness Poverty Crosses and every thing that makes your life uncomfortable Imitate the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ by raising your hearts from Earth and ascending into Heaven by spiritual Comtemplations Moreover continue the day by reading and singing of Psalms attend upon God in publick also let not private duties hinder you from publick neither strive to attend so much upon publick Ordinances as to abridge your selves of private secret Opportunities I think those Christians do much wrong themselvs who spend all the day in attending upon publick prayers and hearing I would not have you strive to hear four or five Sermons a day unless you can take so much time besides as is necessary to meditate of and apply what you hear so order the day that secret Communion with God may fit you for publick and publick Ordinances fit you again for private and secret converse with God It is not much eating but eating moderately and digesting what we eat that encreaseth strength Two or three Sermons seriously heard and ruminated upon in secret do more good than ten Sermons heard without meditation Brethren what shall we think do those sanctifie a Sabbath to the Lord who hear a Sermon and a few prayers and then go to the Alehouse they who drink sleep sport walk or work away the Sabbath all these are forbidden Isa 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words nor doing thine own works Again Christ and his Disciples did not spend this Day partly in religious Exercises and partly in Recreations or Workings John 20.18 and Acts 20.7 we find there that Christ came amongst the Disciples on the First day and that Paul and the Christians used to spend this Day in Prayer preaching and receiving of Sacraments Moreover God will bless us inwardly and outwardly if we conscienciously observe it Isa 58.14 He will curse us inwardly and outwardly in soul and body if we prophane it See Jer. 17.27 Well then my Brethren do not prefer a Holy-day before the Lords-Day It s sad to think that hundreds should more scruple to work on a Saints-day which is of humane institution than on the Sabbath which is of God's Sirs you of this place have got shall I say an undeserved name of more than ordinary piety but I assure you that if you fall to neglect and prophane the Sabbath as some of our neighbours do you shall lose your very Name I should be very sorry to hear when I am gone that you should prove a Sabbath-breaking-People 10. Make great Conscience of Prayer family and secret Let your houses be Houses of Prayer Those families are called Heathenish Families that call not upon God Psal 79.6 Power out thy Fury upon the Heathen the Families that call not on thy Name Let God have a morning and an evening Sacrifice from you Under the Law God called for the first Fruits and there was a Feast of Ingathering or of the Last Fruits
ENGLAND'S Remembrancer BEING A COLLECTION OF Farewel-Sermons Preached by divers NON-CONFORMISTS IN THE COUNTRY Revel 3.3 Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast London Printed in the Year 1663. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THe great Importunity of some serious Christians hath been the occasion of bringing these Notes to light and a singular care not to wrong the Authors hath procured as exact and perfect Copies as could possibly be expected excepting what Errata's have happened in the Printing They are not sent forth upon any bad design but it is very much desired and also hoped that they may do good When our Fields are not so fruitful 't is a comfort if our Garners are not quite empty but that some of the old store is left When our special Bosom-Friends are at a distance that we cannot see them it 's some satisfaction if we can here from them When our sins have driven so many of our Teachers into corners that we cannot hear them in Publick it may be some help to us that this way we may converse with them in our houses still And though it hath been the great sin of many English Professors to lust after Quails to affect new airy Notions and to loath heavenly Manna because it was common how many of us alas that surfeted upon our plenty thereby provoking the Lord to send years of scarcity yet it is possible that some by this time may have recovered their appetite to sound and wholesome Food To such the ensuing Sermons no doubt will be welcome And is it not now high time to be sensible of what we have lost As Jerusalem in the dayes of her affliction remembred with grief of heart all her pleasant things which she had in the dayes of old Lam. 1.7 They were sorrowful for the Solemn Assemblies whom the Lord Promised to gather and bring again Zeph. 3.18 20. And would it not be our wisdom to make the best advantage of what we yet enjoy If we are kept shorter in respect of Publick means the greater should be our care to improve all private helps If we have less plain and practical Preaching the more need to give attendance to Reading If we are unfaithful in a little why should we be entrusted with more were there never so many to be found amongst us that pray daily for the restoring of their Ministers yet while our unprofitableness that cast them out still continues there is little hope that prayer alone should bring them in again And so the more we see amiss abroad should it not the more provoke us to reform at home He that would have his House a Bethel must see to the cleansing of it and put away those things that would provoke the eyes of God's Glory How should an Holy God delight to dwell there where Sin and Satan his greatest enemies bear rule Oh that our Houses were indeed consecreated as little Churches to his Service surely then the Lord himself would be a little Sanctuary to us Yea so we might hope further to see his Power and Glory even as we have seen them in the great Congregation They that joyn themselves to the Lord to serve Him and to love the Name of the Lord to be His Servants every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it the Lord hath Promised that He will bring them to His Holy Mountain and make them joyful in His House of Praise Isa 56.6 7. O let us chuse the things that please Him as ever we would have our Pleasant things Indeed was Holiness to the Lord more engraven on us then there would be greater hopes that we should yet possess the Land and inherit His Holy Mountain But alas what do we any of us crying out of the sins of the times what do we complaining of Disorders and Corruptions in Church-Assemblies if in the mean time we neglect to reform disorders at home in our Families and overlook Corruptions in our own Hearts Would not this bewray great Partiality and Hypocrisie Good Reader Be serious when thou viewest over these Sermous Examine what thou readest comparing it with the un-erring Rule of Sacred Writ Turn to those Texts of Scripture where for brevity sake the places are only noted the words not recited If thou comest with a sober unprejudiced mind thou wilt find here the words of Truth and Soberness These Sermons most of them were Preached and Heard with Sad and Mournful Hearts O do not thou bring a vain light spirit to the perusal of them They come forth recommended to the Blessing of God by Prayer Let it be thy earnest Prayer to God also that thou mayest profit by Them Without His Blessing all Means are ineffectual If thou gettest any Light or Heat any Quickning or Comfort from them bless the Lord for it and be more mindful of these whom He hath covered with a Cloud in the Day of His Anger Who have sometimes Prophesied in Sackcloth and are now cloathed in Sackcloth because they may not Prophesie O strive together with them in Prayers to God for them What Great things have sometimes been done by Prayer By Prayer Joshua commanded the Sun Sun stand thou still upon Gibeon And the Lord hearkned to the voice of a man Sure we are he that hath caused the Sun to go down upon so many of our Prophets yea hath caused their Sun to Set at Noon He can so order it that at evening time it shall be light Zech. 14.7 Now Beg hard of God on the behalf of those who are Peaceable and Faithful in this our Israel that He who hath the hearts of Kings and all Men in His hand would give those His Servants to find favour in the eyes of our King and Governours that after the example of good Hezekiah 2 Chron. 30.22 they may countenance and encourage all such as would teach the good Knowledge of God in the Land ERRATA PAge 4. line 18. reade fruitful P. 11. l. 2 3. r. To shew that Christians are to remember how for the manner they P. 14. l. 33. r. sorrow P. 17. l. 25. put out to P. 21. l. 30. r. wantonness deadness l. 31. r. worldliness P. 23. l. 14. for injoy 1. have P. 30. l. 30. r. deserts P. 31. l. 22. dele by their sins P. 39. l. 1. r. another P. 47. l. 9. f. III. take 3. l. 27. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 33. r. Loquitur P. 48. l. 24. r. now that l. 32. r. remove P. 53. l. 27. r. reclinemus P. 58. l. 12. f. this r. His. P. 71. l. 13. dele that P. 73. l. 21. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. ult r. several controversies P. 77. l. 9. r. think themselves wise l. 15. r. it is P. 60. l. 21. dele to go P. 84. l. 20. r. tendiculam l. 24. r. Bonus P. 91. l. 18. r. This is P. 94. l. 23. r. halting l. 28. r. so true P. 96. l. 31. r. replentes P. 98. l. 18. r. that answered
their over eager desires to embrace this present World have let Heaven go have lost that for ever 2. Take heed of following mens examples further than you see them to follow the Rule of God's Word the world is ever ful of bad examples if we would walk safely we must walk by Rule If we think it enough only to do as the most there is little hopes of our working out our salvation Matt. 7.13 The word of Christ must judge you hereafter O let it guide you here As many as walk according to this Rule peace shall be upon them and mercy In matters of Religion of Salvation believe none follow none further than there is ground for their opinions and practices in God's written Word Were we to follow mens examples or mens traditions in matters of Religion besides the Scriptures then will not this follow viz. That the Scriptures are not a perfect Rule as the Papists teach that it must be eeked out with unscriptural traditions and the commandments or documents of men And do but once admit this and we shall have no certain Rule at all 3. Take heed of consultiâ—â— here with flesh and blood In the matters of our Salvation not the Flesh who is ever at that Master spare thy self but Conscience informed out of God's Word must be our Counsellor Our souls interest and our carnal interest are many times cross to one another Hence it is our Saviour so much insists on the duties of self-denial and taking up the Cross Yea he further tells us He that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it You know great works are seldom perfected at a small charge A rich Mine it will cost a man something before he comes to it but when he has found it it soon recompenseth him for all his former pains and expences both Heaven and Salvation is such a Treasure though we should lose all our earthly comforts this would certainly repair all our losses and make and enrich our souls for ever 4. Take heed of delaying to set to this work Oh! have we not delayed too long Have we not lost time and lost special opportunities lost such advantages for carrying on this work as for any thing we know we may never enjoy again It is high time now to awake out of sleep to shake off Spiritual sloath to apply our selves to the work in good earnest who knows but the day of our visitation the time of our life and of God's patience may be very near an end It may be the eleventh hour However the longer it is ere we set to our work the more difficulty we shall find in it I now come to the Directions 1. See that you understand your work Be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Yea study to be filled with the knowledge of his Will Rest not in good meanings My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge Hos 4.6 â—ee here though bare knowledge cannot save one yet many a one is destroyed for lack of knowledge Beloved though we may not be permitted to preach publickly yet I know not that it would be any crime for us to instruct such in private as repair to us for assistance and advice O that poor souls were as ready to make use of us as we are willing to afford them the best help we can 2. Be sure your Ground-work be good Build on the Rock Christ so indeed you need not fear but your Work will stand Other Foundation can no man lay If ye build besides this Rock or build partly on Christ and partly on your selves the work will come to nought We are quite lost and ruined in our selves that we must be taken off from our own bottoms brought out of our selves to Jesus Christ or we cannot be saved 3. Do all in Christ's strength Phil. 3.13 This way the Apostle Paul went to work Then the work of our Salvation is like to go forward when we have Christ the Saviour putting to his helping hand and joyning with us O as ever you would have your work to prosper be sure you take Christ along with you 4. As Noah being moved with fear fell to work and prepared an Ark to the saving of himself and of his house so let us work out our Salvation with fear We should have a reverent fear towards God to quicken us to duty and to awe and make us exceeding serious in duty Again we should have a jealous fear of Satan and our own sinful deceitful hearts to look narrowly to them who like Sanballat and Tobiah will do but what they can to hinder and take us off our work 5. Labour much with God in prayer Thus there were hopes the work would be going forward Observe what immediately follows the Text It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure When it could â—â—â—aid of Paul Behold he prayeth then was Ananias â—â—nt to confirm him that he might receive his sight and be filled with the holy Ghost Acts 9.11 17. The Work is great to work out your Salvation and it is possible you may want some helps you have had yea and meet with greater hindrances new difficulties in it O pray in strength to carry you thorow It may be you shall not have liberty to hear so much to quicken you the more to prayer You may have fewer hearing-opportunities that you shall have more time to pray 6. Up and be doing when you can find the Spirit at work in your hearts Attend to the motions of God's Spirit This is a special season not to be let slip when we have an offer of his co-operating Grace 7. Do all as in the sight of God Set the Lord ever before you Eye-service is a fault in our servants condemned Eph. 6.6 but a vertue in God's servants Indeed could we but ply our work while God's eye is on us we should never be idle or ill-employed 8. Let out the strength of your spirits in the weighty matters of God's Law and not about trivial unnecessary things Such things as God no where requires of which he sayes In vain do they worship me after the traditions of men If we make our selves busie in building hay and stubble on the Foundation our work shall be burnt and we shall suffer loss 9. Improve the day time God hath alotted to you wherein to work The day of Grace O that we had known our day we have had a large space and a fair season of working granted to us and yet I am afraid that as to the most of us little of our work is done The consideration of our former loss of time should cause us henceforward to double out diligence Now let not a day pass over your heads wherein you do not some way further thâ—â—â—â—â—rk of your salvation Especially improve the Lorâ—â— Day Sabbath-dayes are dayes of resting from outward labours from
secular emploiments yet not to be spent in idelness they are the harvest-time for our souls And when will ye work and bestir your selves if not in harvest The Lords Day is to be spent in such works as more directly tend to the promoting of our Salvation And the more you should see this work going forward the more would Sabbaths be your delight You would not be for those vain recreations that sinfull liberty you may see others take on God's Holy-Day 10. Sit down and count the cost So you might be prepared to go thorow with your work If you reckon right you will see let Salvation cost what it can it can never cost too much Rom. 8.18 I reckon sayes the Apostle and we need not fear to take his account here that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to follow I would have said a word more to this but have prevented my self in speaking to the third caution Therefore here I conclude my Sermon and Exhortation desiring that the Spirit of Truth may bring these things to your remembrance Beloved could I have thought of any word more profitable and generally useful for you you should have been sure of it It may now be expected I should speak something touching my Deprivation O that the Lord would lead Ministers and People each into their own hearts to find out the cause of this sad dispensation as we read of the Fathers in another sense He causeth us this day to pass under a cloud I know some think and will not spare to say that we wilfully bring this Obscurity on our selves But the Lord the searcher of alâ— hearts knows and will manifest to the world one day whether it was a meet humour or whether indeed it was not Conscience that would not suffer us to comply with the things now imposed The Lord knows we dare not adventure on the checks reproaches smitings of our own hearts and consciences though it follow that our mouths be stopt Beloved I cannot forget the respects you have shewn to me how you chose me at first under great bodily weakness and were willing to procure me assistance I have not wanted outward encouragement among you but above all I have oft thought when I have come to my publick work here unpreparedly enough God knoweth yet I have found the fruit help and benefit of your prayers for me That I must acknowledge those few years I have spent amongst you have been the best to me the most comfortable years I have spent in the Ministry That might I have liberty the Lord knows I would most gladly spend and be spent for you Nothing but death should part us And howsoever we are separated yet I pray we may live in one anothers hearts and that we may more earnestly than ever strive with God in prayer one for another More I would have said but strength and spirits fail and further I would spare you Now how glad should we be if those that shall follow us may do more good amongst you then ever we have or could have done The Lord carry on his own Work and though He quite lay us aside though He should never honour us so far as to make any further use of us yet we could rejoyce to see Gods Work prospering Religion and that not only in a form but in the life and power of it promoted and more and more set up in this place So I commend you to God and to the Word of His Grace who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are Sanctified SERMON IV. 1 King 18.21 And Elijah came unto all the People and said How long halt ye between two opinions If the Lord be God follow him but if Baal then follow him IT is not a thing indifferent what Religion men are of whether they are for God or Baal That is a pernicious opinion that affirms You may be saved in any Religion Again it 's not enough that we are of the true Religion but we must be true to it And so much we may learn from faithful Elijah both his Doctrine and practice When Israel went a whoring from God he was jealous for the Lord 1 Kin. 19.10 He continued to stand for God His Truth and Worship even when he could not see one more of his mind to be his second So here he durst plead for God when there was none found to take his part Note by the way that in the worst of times in times of most prevailing corruptions yet the Lord is not wont to leave himself without witness It 's further observable Israel had never degenerated more than in Elijah's dayes Yet never had they been priviledged with greater means Many Prophets at this time raised up amongst them see ver 4. of this Chapt. and Elijah among the rest Note Extraordinary means sometimes serve only to heighten and fill up the measure of a Peoples sins See Mat. 23.34 35. And now comes a dreadful Famine The Prophets shut up and the Heavens shut up together Elijah had foretold the drought Chapt. 17.1 And after three years he is sent with good news that rain was coming Chap. 18.1 Ahab seeing Elijah v. 17. when he should have acknowledged his own sin and guilt he wrongfully accuseth God's Prophet Art thou he that troubleth Israel Note It is no new thing for God's Faithful Messengers to be accounted enemies to the State As Elijah said I am not better than my Fathers Are we better than Elijah and other of God's Prophets who have been thus censured Why then should we look for better here Note Again observe Wicked men are very prone to mistake the cause of troubles and calamities See Jer. 44.18 20 21 22. where there is most guilt commonly there is least ingenuity or grace to see and acknowledge it It 's natural unto sinners we have it by kind from our first parents to transfer all blame as much as we can from our selves to others But how deeply soever Ahab is pleased to charge him Elijah is ready to clear himself and the Truth He desires that himself and the prophets of Baal might come to a fair tryal So he doubts not but to prove himself by a miraculous sign to be the Servant and Prophet of the most high God and shew them to be a pack of most wretched Impostors Ahab yeelds to a discussion of this business either out of curiosity expecting some strange discovery or through fear being awed with the present Judgment they lay under not knowing but upon refusal the Prophet might have some other dreadful Message to deliver or in hope and expectance upon his yeelding herein to have the Judgment removed Some such way he is perswaded and enclined to call the prophets of Baal and the Heads of the people together unto Mount Carmel where being assembled Elijah sets upon the people in the words read unto you How long halt ye
enlarged them the consideration of their Restraint will quicken them to greater pains care and faithfulness Oh how will they then labour to fullfil their Ministry which formerly perhaps they had been more remiss in this evil befalling them will make them the more industrious to do the more good God can also enlarge the hearts of their People to receive them the more gladly and their Doctrine the more readily How welcome do ye think a Minister rising from the dead would be to a people formerly it may be ungrateful to him Why some degree at least of such welcome may a Minister returning out of Prison find Absence doth usually endear things unto us And why may not God make their Imprisonment to endear them and their Ministry too to their People This some of the Prisoners of the Gospel have found 2. The Confinement of the Ministers of the Gospel doth sometimes fall out to the furtherance of the interest of the Gospel I mean the cause of Religion the Work of Grace the power of Godliness And that by these wayes amongst others 1. It is an occasion of exercising the Charity of God's People We need not go far to prove that in times of prosperity and universal rest even Professors themselves are apt to settle themselves upon their worldly concernments to grow earthly minded and to fully themselves too much with the dirty commodities of the world And the Ministers of Christ do find the Prophecy of their Lord made good by their own experience that the love of many shall waxcold And indeed in times of prosperity and liberty there seems not to be such need of the Manifestations of Charity and the Expressions of Affections as in times of Confinement By this therefore doth God try the dispositions of Professors towards their Ministers that have spent and been spent amongst them and draw forth the bowels of compassion towards them Our Apostle's present condition at Rome was an occasion of exercising the Philippians Charity towards him even then their care of him flourished Phil. 4.10 This the Apostle rejoyces in not so much because it was a supply of his wants as because it was an exercise of their Grace and would abound to their account knowing that God would supply their needs in as much as they had supplied his ver 17.18 19. 2. It is a singular occasion of quickning the People of God to prayer And in prayer the exercisings of Repentance Faith Hope and Heavenly-mindedness are emeninently seen It was sometimes prophesied concerning Christ the great Shepherd I will smite the Shepherd and the Sheep shall be scattered Zech. 13.7 And so it was indeed but it many times falls out otherwise in the smiting of the Ministers of the Gospel those inferiour Shepherds for thereby the Sheep are gathered I mean gathered to Prayer gathered to seek God Thus you know they were gathered together for Peter when he was in prison Acts 12.5 and ver 12. Many were gathered together at the house of Mary praying This the Apostle Paul calls for from his Philippians ver 19. of this chapter and from the Jews Heb. 13.19 Pray for us the rather that I may be restored unto you the sooner for the Apostle was even then a Prisoner at Rome as the most judicious Commentators do conceive It may be the prayers which were wanting for the preservation will be abundantly poured out for the restauration of the Ministers of the Gospel and this I do account is highly for the advantage of the interest of the Gospel There is certainly no great evil towards us so long as the prayers of God's People are well maintained and indeed I see not how any good thing can be long kept out where Prayer fervent faithful Prayer is kept up 3. It confirms the courage of the People of God that are so indeed when they see their Ministers lye for the defence of the Gospel it conduces much to their settlement in the Truth and encouragement in their Profession 4. It serves to the uniting of the People of God and the keeping up of union and communion amongst them Now if ever will they that fear the Lord speak often one to another even when he is removed that should speak to them all See how close the Disciples kept together when their great Shepherd was removed Acts 1.14 and 2.1 The like in some measure may follow amongst the People of God upon the removal of their Teachers into corners and this will undoubtedly be to the furtherance of the interest of the Gospel viâ—â— unita fortior their combined powers will be impregnable So much for the personal Restraint or Confinement of the Ministers of the Gospel and its falling out to the furtherance both of the Doctrine and Interest of the Gospel 2. Ministerial Restraint that is Suspension or Silencing the Ministers of the Gospel This doth also sometimes fall out and God can make it fall out to the furtherance of the Gospel And that 1. Of the Doctrine of the Gospel And that 1. By puting Christians upon a more strict enquiry into those Points Doctrines or matters of Religion that the Ministers of the Gospel are restrained for and so knowledge comes to be encreased and the truth to be found out Some have observed God's good ends in suffering errors to be broached in the Church by that means the Truth hath been more narrowly look into and more abundantly cleared The erroneous Tenents and corrupt usages of the Corinthians about the Lord's Supper fell out exceedingly to the furtherance of the Truth in that matter the Apostle Paul taking occasion from thence to write that eleventh Chapter of his first Epistle by which we are more instructed in the Doctrine of that Sacrament than in all the Scriptures besides Something like may be observed to have fallen out in this case that I am speaking of It is something that they are suspended for And what is it is it a sufficient ground of suspension are the next enquiries Instances for the confirmation of this are not wanting in our own and other Churches For you must not expect under this head of Suspension that I should bring any Scripture-instances of its falling out to the furtherance of the Gospel For I do not read of any such restraint laid upon the Ministers of the Gospel in the Scripture It might have been expected that Moses should have restrained those that prophesied in the Camp I mean Eldad and Medad Joshua indeed said My Lord Moses forbid them But Moses thought there could not be too many Prophets in Israel so that the Lord would but put his Spirit upon them And as for Joshua it was nothing but zeal for his Masters credit that put him upon it as appears Numb 11.29 Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Would God that all the Lord's People were Prophets c. It might have been expected that Paul here at Rome should have shewed his Apostolical Authority at least and have forbidden them
profiting by affliction may appear to all men when we our selves shall appear 2. Let us labour to be patterns of courage and constancy to others and not only so but indeed examples of the Beleivers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 3. Let us study our own hearts dress our own Vineyard better than we have done that we may be other kind of men and Ministers hereafter than formerly we have been By these means amongst others I told you the restraint of the Ministers of the Gospel might fall out to the furtherance of the Gospel O be not wanting in the improvement of so good means for so good and blessed an end The rest concern private Christians cheifly 1. Be hard at prayer with God and cease not till you have prayed us into our liberties in the Gospel again For this as for all other mercies God will be sought unto nay it may be for this in a more especial manner For it seems that God hath appointed prayer as a special means for the restoring of his restrained Ministers Heb. 13.19 I beseech you the rather to do this to pray hard that I may be restored to you the sooner Prayer is that form of speech which Christians ought to use that God would bring back his banished This restraint for ought I know may have come upon the Ministers of the Gospel because of them that have restrained paryer before God as the phrase is Job 15.4 However assure your selves that God will not open our mouths again to preach till you have well opened wide opened your mouths to him in prayer 2. Be united amongst your selves To have had Ministers of different perswasions hath doubtless maintained and kept alive differences amongst Professors which otherwise either had not been or at least had not been so long live'd And I earnestly pray God that upon the unhappy laying aside of Ministers of one perswasion and another may follow a happy laying aside of differences amongst their followers that upon the ceasing of Paul and of Apollos that unsavory speech I am of Paul and I am of Apollos may cease also Do not only pray but joyn in prayer each with and each for other And however you may have too much pleased your selves to be known and distinguished by other names and titles yet now if you agree in the common appellation of men fearing God I charge you in the Lord that ye speak often one to another converse familiarly and freely each with other watch no longer for each others halting but watch over each other to prevent and heal all haltings Let this separation of Ministers from People be for the kniting and curing of that separation that is between People and People 3. Be much in the Scriptures and in other good Books How this may be for the informing and setling of the judgments of affectionate Professors I have already hinted and but hinted I am now onely to exhort you to it to press you to take that course whereby the Gospel of Christ may be furthered Even Reading is an Ordinance of God and therefore you may pray for God's blessing upon it nay therefore ye ought I speak not of transient cursory viewing of Books but of a serious solemn reverent deliberate religious exercise of Reading Be often smelling to that sacred and fragrant bundle of Myrrhe the Bible of God by somewhat in which each spiritual sense shall be refreshed Ply your Book this Book the harder now that they are taken off that taught you reade your Bibles and bless God that you have Bibles to reade skil to reade them and liberty to use your skil that you have your Fathers Will in your Mother-tongue which all Christians have not which God grant we may alwayes have And now let good savory practical Divinity find some room more room than sometimes in your houses hands heads hearts you have professed a great while it 's time to begin to know somewhat now And this is a way of getting knowledge which will maintain zeal and affection If it be not the only way I am sure it is one of the best means that we have left us to preserve our selves from the corrupt Doctrines and false Opinions by which we shall be strongly assaulted and the minds of many sorely shaken A well-read Scholar is but a jejune commendation indeed but a well-read Christian is a noble character Acts 17.11 These were more noble c. 4. Preach you now in your places by your communication and conversation Out of your calling go not out of Gospel-Order go not shew forth a sober-spirit in all things confound not the difference which God himself hath made between Ministers and People But exhort one another consider one another to provoke not to anger and jealousie as heretofore but to love and good works Heb. 10.24 Somewhat more you ought to do now that we must no more do what we were wont Watch over each other lovingly tenderly faithfully in this absence of your Watchmen Study to promote the cause of Religion and to carry on the Kingdom and Interest of Jesus Christ as God hath given you talents and shall give you occasion to lay them forth If it must be so indeed that God will take off the Keepers of his Vineyard for a time let each man of you become his Brothers Keeper 5. Reflect upon your former slight and common thoughts of the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances and be humble for that careless and drowsie temper and labour to beget and encrease in your souls more earnest longings after and more sutable valuations of the Ministry and dispensation thereof To have good stomachs sharp appetites towards spispiritual food will both get meat and give a relish to it whereas the hunger of the body can only do the latter Doubtless God's will concerning you in withdrawing the Table is to reprove your wantonness and surfetings and to make his Word precious in these dayes and to the men of this generation If you would yet again have bread ask long and cry for bread They that would have bread of Joseph must buy it give money cattle lands and all for it Gen. 47. But they that would have bread of God must be hungry for it As Christians get rest by being weary Mat. 11.28 so they get food by being hungry Mat. 5.6 6. Be more frequent more fervent in private Duties in Family Duties in what 's most secret Usurp not the Office and be as much of a Minister to your Families as you can I do not say that you now may do somewhat which formerly you might not but that you must do somewhat more than formerly you did Pray oftner Catechise more read more press the Word read more upon your Families and labour to bring them acquainted with it If you will but be convinced of a necessity of mending your pace and doubling your diligence and will but up and be doing you may make the Gospel a gainer
Alas that I should be forc'd to speak a word which will be so little for the honor of the Gospel The Professors thereof in England are become flow to Duty and of a drowsie temper As to publick specious but little serious as to private perhaps constant but very cold as to secret I doubt very careless A Professor of late hath been little or nothing more than another man save only that he hath heard one Sermon in a week more Alas the very best are remiss and seem to be of the declining hand If a serious zealous Christian of another Church should demand of our Ministers concerning their people as the followers of John asked our Saviour concerning his Disciples Mat. 9.14 Why do we and the Professors of other Churches fast oft c. but your people fast not pray not sanctifie not the Sabbath to any purpose Is it not because the Bridegrooms are with them is it so indeed The day is just upon you that the Bridegrooms are taken away God grant that our curb may prove your spurt The less we must do for you the more do you for your selves and your Children 7. Call to remembrance old Truths repeat in your hearts and in your houses too what ye have formerly received chew upon the Word that you have formerly eaten Who knows but that God may have taken you off your meat your green and flourishing Pastures on purpose to make you find your cud On the precious Truths that at this day lye by the Professors of England as stale commodities or meats out of season verily one Sermon-less-year will make you make a meal of the most despiseable and homely dish that was ever set before you If you can but suck at old Truths with new appetites you will find fresh vertue coming from them and that Doctrine that was laid aside as having served one turn may be effectually taken up for many other good purposes in the soul It is said of our Saviours Disciples once and again in the Gospel after he himself was removed from them Then they remembred the words of Jesus his Disciples remembred that he had said this unto them Joh. 2.22 and again Joh. 12.16 These things understood not his Disciples at the first but when Jesus was glorified then remembred they c. The former part of this verse Ah! how true is it of this People of England Oh that the latter part may be found so to that this affliction may prove a rod to bring to remembrance both sins committed and Truths neglected that so the People of God may be truly humbled and the Gospel of God greatly furthered In a word What ever God shall reveal unto you as a pertinent Duty as a Duty of the season as a means to further the eternal Gospel of Christ that do In the mean time praying and purposing as Elihu sayes is meet Job 34.32 That which I see not teach thou me if I have done iniquity I will do no more SERMON IX Ephes 6.18 With all Prayer DYing Israel gave his Children portions and to Joseph one above his Brethren Gen. 48.22 I would commend one or two parts above what some of your brethren are content to sit down with All Prayer Three are All as we speak of principles I. Publick Prayer Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seek after That I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my Life to behold the Beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple He subjected himself to the appointed publick means and resolved his pursuance of them in case of hidings This Ordinance of Solemn Meetings appointed 1. That God's Name may be hallowed Psal 29.1 2. Give unto the Lord Glory worship Him in the Beauty of Holiness Glory must be given unto the Lord and we must alwayes look what way the Lord hath prescribed for it and that is in his own Ordinances Singularly is the glory of God's Power Wisdom Goodness c. born upon the shoulders of many this way God rides in triumph The Kings honour is in multitude of Subjects Blessed Parents have a full quiver Great Men have many poor at their gates At an Assize and Sessions Great Men have more cognizances than at private meetings and this for their honours When Men Women and Children lay siege to Heaven Haec vis grata Deo Tertul. It 's the Glory of God to be overcome by a multitude 2. Herein his People are regarded 1. Hopes given them of Audience Mat. 18.20 There 's a threefold cord in this one kind of Prayer strong to remove Evils and a powerful twist to pull down Blessings The Wayes sure will be mended when not only rich men with their teems but cottages with their scuttles come to the common work 2. The Godly quickned in the Duty Growing and thriving People have that language Zech. 8.21 Come let us go and Pray I 'l make one in Prayer O come let us worship 3. Others stir'd up When they see a King a Landlord a Master casting a copy for them 2 Chron. 6.12 Thus they are ready to reason See my concernments are like theirs but not my heart zeal love to God watchfulness preparation c. What a fool am I in the midst of the Congregation c. II. Private Prayer Josh 24.25 I and my House will serve the Lord. There should be right houshold-Order and Government according to the Rule amongst Christians Col. 4.1 Paul speaks to Masters of Families to carry like good Kings in the first verse and in the second minds them of their Priestly Office Continue in Prayer This Kind instituted First That his Name may be hallowed The wise and merciful God hath a quick Eye and a strong Shoulder as he knoweth so he profers to bear burdens wherewhith Families are loaden Cast your care on me for I care for you When we lock up our selves at night and have Prayer the Key at our girdles letting out our selves in the morning under his Providence we have him for our God and acknowledge him what he is Secondly Families regarded 1. A bar to domestick Discords There must necessarily be a studied intended right carriage in the family where Prayers are on foot 2. Servants and Children acquainted with their Duties framed to that Worship of God fitted for publick Prayer c. 3. Superiors in Families hereby are under rich Promises Gen. 18.17 4. Affaires of the whole sanctified 1 Tim. 4.5 I I. Secret Prayer Mat. 6.6 This kind instituted First That God's Name may be hallowed For the more self is set aside more way is made for God's Glory the Glory of his Omnisciency c. Secondly Particular regard of man 1. As to the matter of Prayer What an Hell the House would be but for the Closet If the wife heard the confessed vile miscarriages of the husband and â—he husband did but peep into the heart of the wife through an open window and so in other
relations Satâ—n and corrupt nature would soon cut the cords of amity dissolve bands knit angry looks weave vexations gestures contrive evil surmises hinder domestick Prayer c. 2. Manner Secret Prayer is elbow-room-Duty The knoâ—s in the Actus exerciti quoad indivuum cut No Act of Vniformity takes place here In a word Thou maist be what thou wilt be if ipse locus sis as Bernard I leave thee with thy Bridegroom in secret U S E. Let me hear my Will read give leave to the impropriety of speech what I have bequeathed to you Your deeds are good if you have every parcel You count right as we say in Arithmetick if you answer the total or All. 1. My eldest Son in the Closet Read 1 Cor. 11.22 though in another case What have you not houses to Pray in or despise you the Church I mean forsake you the assembling of your selves together for one duty to swallow up another it spoiles All. The whole City to be in the Gates is not good 2. My second Son in the Family You have your House well adorned but there 's something wanting A man is a man though he want an arm or a leg but is not integral Your Prayers are not Mathematically total but when they are then are you 3. My third Publick Prayer is good when there is a concurrance of Family and secret You do well when you believe the History but to rest in Historical faith is not that I commend I give to every one of you an allowance and yet you are found too light Ment mene tekel But first What light peeces without allowance Secondly With allowance First We consider secret Prayer 1. It may be thou makest thy closet but a creep-hole hiding thy self from reproof pleading that thy heart is as good as those that make the greatest shew Though I make not that appearance in the Church nor that noise in my house yet I pray in secret Pardon my mistrust I fear thy prayers are not constant Again thou wilt say I pray alwayes I answer As it is in point of Sabbath when men plead every day ought to be kept a Sabbath and then no Sabbath is kept So thy praying alwayes is not to pray at all 2. Admit thou prayest in secret Dost thou perform Duty out of Conscience to the Command If not thy sacrifice is not accepted 1 Sam. 15.22 Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and Sacrifices as in obeying the Voice of the Lord Behold to Obey is better than Sacrifice and to Hearken than the fat of Rams For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft c. If thou say out of Conscience of Command then what answerest thou to God who commands all Prayer James 2.11 For he that said pray in secret said also pray in family now if thou prayest in secret and not in family thou art become a transgressor of the Law 3. Thou being a Master of a family contentest thy self with secret prayer 1. My Family will not be subject to House-duty Art thou a King in thy House as Jezebel in a far different case said Dost thou now govern the Kingdom Dost thou give up thy Lordship Lose not thy Authority O King say I and my House will serve the Lord. 2. Wilt thou say I am ashamed to appear in publick If Prayer be a black deed than let red cover thy face Art thou afraid of children or fools even such are scoffings Michals think it not much to be vile in their sight and thine own sight too Be not ashamed of Christ who is not ashamed of thee his Brother but fear lest be be ashamed of thee when he cometh in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels Mark 8.38 3. My thronging family business will not permit Answ As we are to pray with all Prayer so to watch with al Watchfulness not only to watch in prayer and after to hear God's answer but unto Prayer He is a strange God who gives thee Lands Labourers c. and gives thee no time Why hath God given thee two Oxen together two Horses two Servants together but thy hours not two together but minutatem this certainly to index to thee and to give thee warning that time is to be improved and weighed very strictly and more regarded than thy Horses c. Let me perswade thee to look after Blessings in God's Way Dayly bread is sweetest that is got by Prayer and Labour Secondly Light with allowance Though I give thee the allowance of that weighty duty of Family-Prayer yea if thou couldst truly say with the young man Thus have I prayed from my youth up what lack I yet I must answer thee One Prayer more is wanting i. e. Publick Prayer As it is in Petitions to ask daily bread and not hallowed be thy Name is but a lame prayer and to pray for Justification in that Petition Forgive us our trespasses but not for Sanctification in that following and lead us not into temptation it measures not out the blood of Christ rightly which reacheth to the purifying of his People as well as pardoning because of something wanting the foresaid Prayer is but a mutile halting prayer So when one limb is cut off all Prayer is maimed thy Deed is imperfect Thou hast both House and Land but not the Commons thereunto belonging II. Family Prayer First If there be nothing but this Family-Prayer it is not one half of All. 1. I mistrust that something besides the glory of God moves thee to it may be thou wast brought up in a praying Family and custom puts thee upon duty or else the sought applause of thy Family or Neighbours thou art desirous to seem â—o be a good Christian rather than to be so and seekest after the gift of Prayer rather than the grace of Prayer 2. I mistrust thou art not constant in duty may be upon the Sabbath but not in thy six dayes may be at night when thou hast time but not in the morning may be when business is not throng but seed-time and harvest or strangers will easily put thee by 3. Admit a constancy it 's not obedience to the Law-giver for he that hath commanded thee to attend him in thy Parlour hath said the like of the Closet Obedience must be copulative and connexive The Soveraignity of God is alike in all kinds of Prayer The disregarding of secret Prayer is the disregarding the Soveraignity of him who is Unicus Praeceptor Mat. 6.6 Secondly But though I give thee an allowance of one weighty kind viz. secret Prayer Yet for all this thou art not currant For as it is in the Commandments to respect one and not another shews a want of sincerity and thou mayest be ashamed when the wicked call thee an Hypocrite Psal 119.6 So as it is in the parts of a Commandment the negative part of the fourth Commandment it is good not to labour but when thou hast no respect to the positive the sanctification of
that rest thou keepeth the Sabbath of the Ox. As in this so in Prayer though thou maist be under a kind of promise to one kind of Prayer yet all promises are made to all Prayer Obj. If thou replyest My Prayers should be perfect if I did like those publick Prayers Answ Observe this in publick Prayers let this parallel guide thee I have known Pillars in the Church who though they could preach ably and powerfully at home had the choice labours of the Learned by them yet durst not absent themselves from publick Preaching though the Minister accounted none of the wisest nor his Sermons free from light mixtures The sincere milk of the Word was that they desired and the publick instituted Ordinance regarded by them did silence them at their own houses they would walk with the Assembly upon the roof so long as the unmoved Foundations would bear them Prayer is tolerable for the manner when I go to the Father through Jesus Christ assisted by the Spirit Obj. I like not Prayers with such a mixt company Ans We may reade in David's Psalms of the constitution of the Church-visible in Saul's time Unsound hypocritical wicked Professors amongst David and others who were sincere In those times David wisheth to have occasion of publick worshipping again and accounts highly of what he did formerly enjoy having gone with the multiâ—ude to serve God in publick III. Publick Prayer First If thy All be only in publick 1. I must crave leave modestly to mind thee of my mistrust that thou hast thoughts that the place it self makes prayers efficacious and thou groundest the special promise of Audience on it and not upon Communion of Saints 2. I fear there is much of self in thee Thou mayest go for a good Church-man in the account of thy neighbours and mayest have that reward for thy service when in the account of God thou art an ill Christian Mat. 6.5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not be as the Hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the Synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men Verily I say unto you they have their reward 3. Admit the best as Isaac to his father Behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb Here is indeed Sacrifice and fat of Rams but where is Obedience and hearkning to all that the Lord hath given in charge Secondly But giving thee the allowance of that weighty duty of Family-Prayer and yet thou wantest weight Though thy house be a Church resembling it in this duty of Prayer Domum vestram non parvam Christi Ecclesiam deputamus as of Juliana to whom Augustine writ For thou wouldst take it ill to be told that thou prayest at the Church and swearest at home as Bernard reproves Eugerius that the Laws of Justinian made a greater noise in his Palace than the Laws of God Admit I say this yet thou art not altogether such an one as I would have thee For as in Faith when Charity is wanting we may call it right Faith but it is not right saving Faith So of thy Prayers It 's well thou prayest but thou prayest not well If thou shouldest withdraw thy belief from a Truth revealed in the Scripture thy Faith is partial So is thy Obedience when a duty is declared in the same and is neglected when all comes to all thou fallest short of that singular and necessary duty of secret Prayer 1. What if I be bold to say thou art nothing but what thou art in secret The Kingdom of God appeareth what it is when it cometh not with observation Luke 17.20 21. It 's not Spectability but Glory within which makes the King's daughter like her self Hidden ones under the Fig-tree are his indeed whom he especially eyeth 2. Let the truly practical judge whether I be too bold in saying that those that resolutely turn aside to crooked wayes of judgment of manners are such as enter not constantly into their Closets daily exercising themselves in this difficult differencing duty of Secret Prayer SERMON X. Luke 24.50 51. And He led them out as far as to Bethany and he lift up his hands and blessed them And it came to pass while He blessed them He was parted from them and carried up into Heaven IN the preceding Chapters the holy Evangelist Luke had by the guidance of the holy Ghost given account of the state of humiliation and in this Chap. holdeth out the Exaltation of Jesus Christ This he doth in declaring two great Articles of the Christian Faith The first is the first step and degree of Christ's Exaltation namely his Resurrection which is confirmed by Scripture by Witnesses who saw him handled him and saw him eat which the same Luke Acts 1.3 calleth infallible Proofs from ver 1. to the 50th The second is this in my Text He ascended into Heaven Wherein you have four parts 1. Christ leading out as a Captain or Shepherd his Diciples from Jerusalem to Bethany 2. You find him parted from them in respect of bodily presence 3. You have his Ascension He was carried up into Heaven 4. Here is his Valediction or Farewel to his Disciples And surely he who all the time of his abode with them spake kindly called them friends excused their failings and would not over-drive them nor put them on too harsh services lest the bottles should break and the garments rent He cannot be unkind at last He who began his first Sermon with nine Blessings Mat. 5. cannot conclude as the old Testament concludeth with a Curse He who was alwayes in the days of his flesh on Mount Gerizzim to Bless and Pray for his Disciples cannot be so changed as to ascend Mount Ebal to Curse at last No but having loved his own he loved them to the end here is a parting but neither height nor depth could separate them from his love When the time of his departing drew near he let out his love more abundantly and gave most signal expressions of entire affection that love that brought him from his Fathers bosome was not quenched nor abated by many waters He had paid dear and suffered deeply for his People he had given his life and shed his precious blood for them yet he is at further cost He lift up his hands and Blessed them In this last part Christs Valediction you have 1. An Agent and that is Jesus Christ who is blessed for ever to whom all power in Heaven and Earth was given who undertook no Office without Call nor exercised any without Authority he Blessed them and that not without Commission for God sent him to Bless 2. The persons blessed and they were a select number chosen out of the world given into his hand called to be Witnesses of Christ's Sufferings Resurrection and Ascension and to Preach the Gospel Observe here Judas who betrayed Christ was not amongst them but lost the Blessing and came under the Curse prophesied of long before Psal
will be careful that the Fornace be not too hot nor the Temptation too strong nor the Burden too weighty the good Shepherd is wonderfully careful of every Sheep in his stock and when the Lambs cannot go he will carry them he will not over-pace the Ewes with young but in his diligence and care will accommodate his journeys his drivings to the weakest and tenderest in the flock So Jesus Christ the great Shepherd of his Church will not only seed his Flock but be careful that neither Devils nor wicked Men drive on Temptation nor the storm of Persecution too furiously but according to the strength of the weakest He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd He shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosome and gently lead those that are with young Isa 40.11 Jesus Christ is that Eliakim Isa 22.21 22 c. upon whom all the affairs and concernments of the Church in general and all the concernments of every Soul in particular do depend whether they be concerning the soul or body temporal or eternal or all And as he is faithful so he is diligent to perform and keep all things committed to his charge such is his faithfulness and diligence that nothing shall miscarry that is committed to him And therefore Be not distractively careful what shall become of you who shall teach you and how you shall be taught but by Prayer and Supplication Cast your care upon him for He careth for you Phil. 4.6 5thly To commit you to God is to commit you to Infinite Power to protect you to support you and deliver you What is Power without Love and Compassion and What is Love and Tenderness without Faithfulness What is Faithfulness without Diligence and what is Diligence and Care without Power Willingness to help without Ability and What is Ability without Love Compassion and Willingness these are unsafe security but when all these are united together they must needs make strong Security and Defence and solid grounds of Comfort Here then is an infinite Power 1. To defend the Church and every Child of God in the greatest dangers God's Church is that Aijeleh Sahar the morning Stag mentioned in the title and inscription of Psal 22. As the Hunters early in the morning single out one Stag or Deer from the whole herd to chase and pursue all the day so all the Devils in Hell and all the wicked men of the world single out the People of God to chase and persecute with fury and rage so long as they are in the world She is surrounded with great dangers and She is secured with strong Power A man when he is besieged by a potent politick and cruel enemie in a Castle whose foundations cannot be undermined whose walls cannot be battered down nor scaled whose gates cannot be broken nor burnt whose provision inexhaustable and all within faithful and trusty he needs not fear the thundrings of the Cannons the roarings of great Granados the glittering Swords nor bloody Flags of his Enemy So though the gates of Hell all the policy and power of infernal furies are united against God's People yet they shall not prevail there is more with than against them our God even this God to whom I commend you is security enough to defend them He is compared to a Rock which all the Devils in Hell cannot undermine 2 Sam. 22.2 3 4. Mat. 16.18 Compared to a Tower whose walls can never be beaten down Prov. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower and the Righteous flie thereunto and are safe Compared to a Shield that cannot be pierced Psal 28.7 and 33.20 To great Waters that no Ship nor Boat with oars can pass Isa 33.21 Compared to a Wall not of stone which may be battered down or time waste and consume but to a Wall of Brass Jer. 15.20 yea a Wall of fire Zech. 2.5 Other walls may be approached unto scaled but a Wall of fire cannot be scaled nor touched it terrifies the enemies at a distance All these shew God's infinite Power to defend his People He is a Munition of Rocks to defend his People that can neither be undermined nor battered so high that they cannot be scaled he is such supplys of provision that they cannot be famished forth Isa 33.16 He shall dwell on high and his place of defence shall be the Munition of Rocks his bread shall be given him and his water shall be sure Well then let this comfort you that you are incircled with so great a Power for protection 2. Here is infinite Power to support your spirits under the greatest trials that they faint not It is a wonder to consider the multitudes and mountains of afflictions heaped on the People of God and they not discouraged when liberty riches relations and life lye at the stake yet they faint not surely this must needs come from a Divine Power which is glorified in mans weakness 2 Cor. 12.9 Would you not wonder to see a Torch a Candle to burn in a mighty storm and tempestious wind Would you not wonder to see a spark of Fire to burn and keep alive in the midst of a Sea So it is a wonder that these mighty storms of Persecution and floods of Affliction that fall upon the Godly should not daunt and dis-spirit them God proportions his Joy to the Sufferings of his People He can make them to account Prisons to be as Palaces and Dungeons as places of delight Ropes and Iron-Chains to be more to them than Golden Ornaments He will so support your spirit under sufferings that you shall glory in Tribulation for him Rom. 5.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in you so the Consolations of Christ shall abound to you 2 Cor. 1.4 5. 3. Here is infinite Power to deliver you from your greatest fears and sufferings He hath done great things of old for his Church and he is the same God still and will do great things for his Peoples deliverance But of this by and by 6thly To commit you to God is to commit you to a Fountain of All Grace for supply and preservation of Grace 1. Here is a fulness of the Grace of Gifes All the eminent Gifts of God's People have come from this Fountain the gifts of Wisdom and of Knowledge the gift of Miracles the gift of Prophecy of discerning of Spirits 1 Cor. 12.8 9 10 11. When you are called before Courts the learned Fathers and the Sons of the Church to plead for maintain and defend your Religion he will give you Wisdom that your adversaries shall not be able to resist He that ordaineth his praise from the mouths of Babes and opened the mouth of Balaams Ass will teach you what to say with such Wisdom that your enemies cannot gainsay Luke 21.15 The learned Rabbies among the Jews were not able to resist the Wisdom and the Spirit that was in Stephen Acts 6.10 Apollos was a man mighty in the Scriptures and he mightily
Candles and then to put them under bushels I do not remember that the like ever was heard or read of in England before that so many Ministers should have the doors shut upon them in a time when the Protestant Religion is professed and countenanced In the former times when Prelacy was Tyrannical though here one and there one had their mouths stopt so that they could not preach in their own places yet they might preach in another Extraordinary Eclipses usually presage some extraordinary Events The Lord alone knows what the the effects of this Great Eclipse will be And the rather this is to be look'd upon as a great affliction if we consider that we cannot tell when or whether or no there shall be a restauration of Pastors to their People How many poor People may cry out as in Psal 74.9 We see not our Prophets neither is there any amongst us that knoweth how long Well do but see Acts 20.37 38. and think how many Pauls are saying to their People this day Ye may see our faces no more and think how many weeping eyes and sad hearts there are Friends weep many times for a short parting when People are deprived of their Ministers they part with their best Friends 8ly Pray for the Faithful Minâ—sters of God both those that stay behind and especially for those that are constrained to depart 1 Thes 5.25 They have prayed for us many a time In every prayer of mine making mention of you all They have shed many a tear and sent up many a sigh They have mourned for your deadness and unteachableness They do now especially need your prayers 1. Pray that God would keep them stedfast They are Leaders of the People Pray they may not cause them to erre They have many temptations to sin they may be in necessities and that is a great temptation 2. That they may have counsel from God Both those that stay in and those that go out may be in the dark as to their own and the Churches affairs Pray therefore that God's Vrim may be with them both Pray that God would discover to both sorts of Ministers wherein they are defective in any thing that might or should be done and wherein either of them have exceeded that knowing their error they may repent 3. For provision Though bread be taken from their mouths pray God would provide some Obadiahs that may feed them though it be with bread and water In Deut. 10.9 we reade that because Levi had no inheritance amongst his brethren therefore the Lord promised to be his inheritance The Lord knows that many of Levi at this day have little or no inheritance amongst their brethren therefore pray that God himself would be their inheritance They are willing to leave House and Land for the sake of Christ and that they may keep a good and quiet conscience O beg that God would not leave them That seeing they are desirous to honour God that of him they may not be slighly esteemed 4. For their return That you may see their faces once more Rom. 1.10 That they may have a prosperous journey to you again if it be the Will of God If God delight in us he can bring his Priests into his Temple again he can bring Ministers to their People and People to their Ministers O beg that God would speed and hasten the time Plead with God the honour of his Name the necessity of his Church and the shortness of the lives of many of his Ministers Many of them are aged and at the most their dayes are like to be few and those that are younger know not how soon a period may be put to their lives O beg that they may not stand all their dayes idle The door is shut and bars are set so that they cannot enter into God's Vineyard as formerly O beg that the Lord would hasten the opening of the doors of the Temple for them and that he would break these bars assunder What the resolution of God is in this particular you and I know not however do you your duty and perform this office of Love to your Ministers and then let both them and you sit still and acquiesce with the same humble resolution that David had 2 Sam. 15.25 26. If I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me his habitation but if he thus say I have no delight in thee Lo here I am let him do to me as seemeth good to him So if God see it good for you and us he can and will restore us to his House again but if he say he hath no delight in us behold here we are let him do to us as seemeth good in his eyes We do acknowledge we are unworthy to be Priests any longer to him and that God can bring about his own glory though we were all really dead and if God should lay us aside all our life time as vessels in which he hath no pleasure we desire to submit And now Brethren not knowing when or whether or no you may see our faces again in a publick manner I bid you farewel Acts 20.32 Commending you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up And with the words of the Apostle in Heb. 13.18 19 20. Pray for us and the rather that we may be restored to you the sooner And the God of Peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ make you perfect in every good work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen SERMON XVI Zeph. 3.18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn Assemblies who are of Thee to whom the Reproach of it was a burden THe Prophet Zephaniah supposed by some Mayer ex Gualth cap. 1. v. 1. as the Prophet Isaiah was of a Family of some Note amongst the Jews some Noble were and are called prophesied in those times that bordered upon the Captivity which was Israels second Egypt and in regard that the body of the People were in his time corrupt and sensless he is a Son of Thunder unto them and in that there was in that corrupt body some sound members a few names that had not defiled their garments he is a Son of Consolation to them The body of the People would not believe enough to humble them nor the Faithful amongst them take in so much as to chear them The Prophets of those times found it little less difficult to prop up good men under their dejections than to throw down bad men castled in their own presumptions The most were perswaded that Captivity would never be and the best had much ado to believe it would ever end as appears by Jeremiah's Purchase Jer. 32.6 7 41 42 43 44. The Text is in the Promissory part of this Book The Prophet ascends the Mount of Blessing at the
Sun of Righteousness that will make our eyes run over Complain to him of the hardness of our hearts Did I ever think my heart could have stood under such a Blow as this O I see it is not the weight of my Afflictions but the working of thine own Grace that will humble I had thought I had had more love to Ordinances than I see I have that thy Concernments had lain nearer my heart than I see they do 3. Go about this Loss cast up and compute what it comes to mark well its Aggravations tell its Circumstances dissect it and you will find it big with many sore Evils It is a whip of many cords wherewith we are whipped out of the Temple Scourge our hearts with the Considerations that offer themselves to us when we sit down to think of it These Mourners remembred Zion they were oft handling the stones of Zion calling Jerusalem to mind Mercies or Judgments in the bulk and taken up in gross do little affect us till we take them in pieces Cordials are sweetest when kept upon the tongue and Pills most bitter when chewed Think of the Nature of the Affliction and think of the Cause of it and then of the Time in which it is fallen upon us and then of the Consequents and Concomitants of it and then of that Degree of it and each of these will shew you that this sad Providence like Ezekiels Roll is written within and without with Lamentation and Mourninig and Wo. 2. As to the manner how we should mourn take it thus 1. Be sure it be for the Solemn Assemblies Not for our reproach but their reproach It may be some of us are losers as to our wordly interest in the loss of our Spiritual advantages that may help to raise the waters but take heed it be not the Head and Spring Zech. 7.3.5 There were some of the Mourners and Weepers that God chargeth as doing it to themselves Did ye mourn unto me Diana was the Crafts-mens cry but Gain was aâ— the bottom Dear respects to God is as the Salt in these Springs Self is as Poyson in them 2. Be troubled but take heed of perturbation The dregs of carnal passion will mud these waters Passions are like Barm that sets affections a working and makes them work over but then they mud the sorrow much Be as Jesus at John 11.33 the occasion of Lazarus death He was troubled or he troubled himself Perturbation raises the soul and stirs up that corruption which was as sedement at the bottom of the Glass Perturbation makes even a Moses speak unadvisedly it makes us as the Sea cast out mire and dirt makes us chide with any body as the People with Moses at Marah Exod. 15.23 In all the occasions of sorrow that you may have be sure you fall upon sin be worthy of that Place but I am worthy of such a Minister O it is a bad Sermon that is not better than the frame of my heart hath been sometimes yea many times under a very warm Ministry 3. Keep the Nether-Springs of sorrow open whilst the Upper-Springs of Ordinances those heavenly Bottles seem to be stopped or as a Fountain sealed Pangs of sorrow upon such occasions are common things but it is as a frame only that is evidencing That sorrow that is but a dayes work is not the sorrow God hath chosen Isa 58.5 margent My Tears saith David have been my meat Psal 42.3 Think of your spiritual refreshments when you sit down to meat and make it appear that we esteem the words of his mouth more than our necessary food Job 23.12 The word here in the Text notes habitual grieving If the departure of Ordinances be grievous what is their long stay Surely the loss of Ordinances is like the loss of a good Husband or a good Wife least at first It is not like that you should weep so much as you did at first but you may mourn more you may have a deeper resentment of the loss you may encrease your displicency against your selves O grave your Assemblies upon the palms of your hands let their Walls be continually before you take in all remembrances that may renew your grief Let your eye affect your hearts when you see the stones of Sion poured out at the top of any streets conclude you are upon the losing hand in Grace when you are losing your sense of this loss People cannot but be growing strange with God when such losses grow familiar with them 4. Let our sorrow put us upon the lively exercise of Grace and the more diligent use of all private Helps that may in any measure compensate this loss 1. Set upon the too much neglected duties of personnal humiliations and family humiliations Our publick losses call loud upon us for secret and private duties If ever the house of Levi weep apart and their wives apart it should be at such a time Zech. 12.12 13 14. When Israel wanted their Smiths they must then with more diligence use their Files use all sharpning whetting wayes 2. Use all occasional Meetings better When the Disciples Luke 24.17 c. were sad upon the loss of their Master what profitable and edifying discourses have they Away now with impertinances and steal a word or two of God and Heaven in our occasional meetings and turn our Civil converse into Christian communion 3. Catch at all opportunities of private communion and be not willing to let them go without a blessing It is said of the Followers of Christ Acts 1.14 They continued in Prayer and Supplication Only manage all wayes of private communion not in opposition to but in subordination to the publick and likewise pray with the publick Worship much in your eye and heart Daniel hath his window in private devotions towards the Temple opened let us have our faces Sion-ward in all our private Supplication 4. Be warming the meat you have by meditation and beg the Spirit as a remembrancer John 14.29 Chew the Cud now love your Bibles peruse other good books bewail the slenderness of your store considering your mighty wayes of trading In a word in all private duties avoid that which we are apt to condemn in publick Worship formality driness saplesness Look upon it as a mighty engagement upon us to watch against that in private and secret Worship which we think makes the publick Worship less lovely in our eyes Look upon dulness and straitness now as a double sin being against the Precept of God and against the Providence of God we have many fewer hands then we had to help on our work and should ours be slothful Our sails are many of them taken down we had need to ply our oars 5. Sorrow into Humiliation but not to Dejection David wept but withall he reasons with his soul Why art thou cast down O my soul Psal 42.4 5 11. and 43.5 Sorrow not as those that are without present staies and future hopes 1. As for present Stayes
Name the danger of a loose careless prophane and worldly life let them now speak let their own consciences say if I did not and yet they would not hear they would not obey Oh Sirs how would you be able to look Jesus Christ in the face Nay how would you be able to look me in the face at that day I beseech you think of this seriously before hand before it be too late I profess to you your souls are so dear to me that I would not for a thousand worlds be your accuser before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ but yet if you will not be advised your blood shall be upon your own heads and I shall be free I shall now conclude this Particular with that one word of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.11 14. Seeing then that the Heavens and Elements and Earth and all the Works that are therein shall be dissolved what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of Christ in peace without spot and blameless 2. The second Word of Advice that I have to leave with you I shall likewise take out of my Text and that is That you would carefully redeem precious Time for God and your own poor souls A common understanding might easily suggest reason enough to follow this Advice Do but consider how little a time we have yet to live in this World how much time we have already spent in vain how sure an account we must give for our time as well as other talents remember that Eternity depends upon this moment we owe God all our time and we cannot lay it out better than for our poor souls Especially consider this grand Argument of the Apostle in the Text that the dayes are evil If it be bad Weather and an unseasonable Harvest and all the Corn upon the ground be like to be spoiled the Husbandman will be sure to raise the price of his good old Corn. Do but use the same Spiritual good husbandry for your souls You may perhaps think that you have many years to live in the world still that is very uncertain Oh but however consider that opportunities of doing and receiving good are few and like to be fewer still and by how much the more rare they are shall they not be the more precious with you God in mercy prevent our fears and jealousies but it is too suspitious that a good Sermon may be rare a good Exhortation or Reproof may be rare a good Minister may be rare an opportunity of Christian Friends praying together may be rare Therefore redeem time while you may lay hold upon every opportunity of good and labour to know in this your day the things that belong to your eternal peace before they be hid from your eyes When Death comes and Judgment comes it will then be too late and therefore in vain to cry out for a little more time for one more good Sermon for liberty of praying once more to God for Grace and Mercy I should have enlarged my Advice in some particulars of strict walking and improving precious time Pray hard set up that great duty of Christianity in your Families Keep Wickedness not only out of your hearts and houses but out of the Town too to the utmost of your power Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy What help you want in publick make up by your holy diligence in private Reade the Scriptures and other good Books much You that have learned your Catechism do not forget it Parents and Masters have a care of your Children and Servants Husbands and Wives watch over one another provoke one another to that which is good Neighbours exhort and admonish one another pray with and for one another and go before one another in an holy Example But I have not time to ennumerate all I have now given you my Advice and I pray God that you may follow it in truth and now I come in the last place to make my last publick Request unto you I bless God I covet no mans Silver nor Gold my Conscience bears me witness that I have not sought yours but you and now at last all that I shall beg of you is your prayers for me and that I hope none of you will deny me I have taken some pains among you I have often prayed for you and by the Grace of God shall never cease praying for you that the Lord would keep you from evil and furnish you with his Grace and afterwards bring you to Glory All the recompence that I ask of you is That you would not forget me at the Throne of Grace but let me have a share in your prayers In many respects I do earnestly and heartily beg your prayers but I must not now mention them all One is this That God would be pleased to pardon my great Unfaithfulness and Unprofitableness among you I beseech you Brethren do not think that I am now complementing with you Something I have done and God forbid that I should not have some ground to hope that God hath blessed my poor Labours to the doing of some good amongst you and perhaps my weak Labours have been acceptable yea and I bless God for that acceptance they have found with you yet truly Sirs God knows and mine own Conscience tells me that I have come much short very much short of that which was my duty to have done which if not pardoned in the Blood of Christ I should never be able to answer before God in the day of my Accounts and therefore I heartily beg your prayers on this behalf Another thing for which I beg your prayers to God for me is That it would please the Lord not to lay me aside as a broken vessel and an unprofitable creature upon the face of the Earth but that yet in what capacity soever the Lord sees good I may do him some service before I go hence and be no more seen I have but a little inch of time to live in this world and my great desire is that while I do live I may be useful for otherwise life will be but a sin or a burden I beseech you pray also that I may be delivered from or strengthened under temptations I am a poor weak creature and cannot stand but by the Grace and Strength of God and I know not what condition the Lord hath allotted for me Only this I have learn'd from the Word of God that they that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 Pray therefore that what sufferings foever the Lord shall at any time call me to I may be enabled by his Grace and Strength so to behave my self under them as that even by suffering I may glorifie his Name and bear witness to the Truth and practise what I have preached and give a good example to others and credit the Gospel and that Profession which I have made thereof My Brethren methinks I have much yet to say and I know not where to break off yet I must come to a conclusion Leave my Work in publick I must and leave you I must or else I must break with God and my own Conscience This is my great grief but yet it is my greatest grief of all that I must leave any unconverted sinners amongst you I profess to you seriously that if I know my own heart I could with chearfulness and joy forsake not only my Living and Livelihood but even my Life also so that I could but see every Drunkard and Swearer and Curser and Sabbath-breaker and Worldling and Prophane person among you converted to a life of Faith and Holiness I dare not not onely for fear of man but chiefly out of conscience I dare not open my lips to utter one word to encourage you to Faction or Schism or any unquietness but with the Apostle I exhort you to follow the things that make for Peace and to wait upon God for the mending of what is amiss But this I must tell you withall that if you do not follow after the things that make for Holiness also you shall never see the Face of God to your comfort Therefore follow after Holiness Follow not that which is evil but that which is good 3 John 11. In the midst of all my other griefs and troubles I shall have no greater joy than to see or hear that any of you walk in the Truth I have preached the Word of Truth to you according to that understanding in the Scriptures which God hath given me I beseech you remember what I have spoken to you in the Name of God and Christ and look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward Let me use the following words of the Apostle to you 2 John 8 9 10 11. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds I must conclude though unwillingly my Farewelwords to you shall be the same with the Apostle's last Farewel to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Amen Amen FINIS