the Righteous Death Isa 57.1 Psal 84.6 Who can but Rear a Bacha here When such drop off the Earth When Circumstance shall Evidence In Judgement it may be Slight it who can make me the man O Lord may cry Ah me Amen To the Memory of Mr. ABRAHAM CHEARE An Acrostick Art gone Dear Soul Art fled Hast left the Earth Below thee 't was it answered not thy Birth Rare was thy Life choice was thy latter end At last for God and Truth thou didst contend Hast Overcome Hast got the Victory Ah! then let others say Why may not I Mercy Begate him Led him Fed him Kept Chear'd him did all until the time he slept Hath now enthron'd him enter'd him in Rest Each Soul that walks with God shall thus be blest Awake then Rouze faint hearts shake off distrust Rampant be Faith greatest of men are dust E'relasting's God and Worship him we must ANAGRAM Abraham Cheare Ah Arme a Breach TO Saints and Sinners God this day doth call To hear consider and to lay to heart What he hath done is doing and yet shall Be done amongst us ere this Cup depart Blessed are they whom Chast'ning he doth teach To hear and fear when he makes such a Breach O hasten Saints how is the Sun now setting The Light which on you sometimes brightly shone Away from you apace seems to be getting As if God's work amongst you now were done By treble stroaks God heretofore did Preach To you not hearing comes this fearful Breach And is there not a Cause Consider try What mean those bleatings everywhere so rise A worldly Spirit Pride Formality Bent to back-sliding as if 't were your life First-Love first-Works alas you do not reach No wonder then the Lord makes such a Breach Sayes to his chiefest Children Come away Remove the Candle and put out the Light These People eat and drink rise up to play Are not the Children of the Day but Night They hear indeed but do not what I Teach Wherefore in fury I will make a Breach Poor Church in Plymouth whom methinks I spy As men astonied stand and thus they speak The Lord hath dealt with us most bitterly Dear Cheare 's gone from us O behold a Breach 'T is so indeed a breach full sore and wide That is upon the choicest Mercies made And each of you are like now to be try'd Whether Religion be your chiefest Trade That you are driving Heaven for to reach Or fixt on Earth if so a sorer Breach Will yet attend you fully to discover Upon what ground you stand what ends you have Before this over-flowing Scourge pass over Look well about you Cheare 's gone to his Grave The Shepherd's smitten he no more must Preach Watch Warn nor Water Oh! this is a Breach Ah! Plymouth thou thy Shepherds that hast turn'd Out of thy Gates the men who sought thy good Against them cruelly thy wrath hath burn'd Thou suckst in poyson loathest wholsome food Hughs Martin Cheare all thy hand could reach Thou castest out wherefore behold a Breach And you poor Sinners living in that place Where God set up this burning shining Light And did display the Glory of his Grace Thereby your Souls to Christ for to invite Your Day is gone your Night its shadows reach Instead of Building now behold a Breach A sound of Gospel-Grace you may not hear Again till God have made your Souls to say Blest are those feet on Mountains that appear Bringing glad tydings of the joyful day Who coming in the Name of Christ shall Preach And thereby shall repair this woful Breach Poor outward inward Prisoners and Exiles Have lost a worthy sympathizing Friend So hath whole Sion within many miles She hath not any so able to extend Help every way Compassions he did reach And laboured till he died in Sion's Breach The day before he di'd when speech seem'd failing His Soul did travel groan and cry to God Most bitterly lamenting and bewayling Causes in Sion calling for the Rod The deep Apâ—stasies his Soul did reach And while hâ—â—v'd made on him many a Breach But Ah! the day is great 'mong Jacob's Seed Horsemen and Chariots swiftly flee away And none are rais'd to stand up in their stead When each choice piece goes to its House of Clay By whom shall Jacob rise Lord thou us teach And send Supplies sufficient to the Breach Which cannot be but by thy holy Spirit Giv'n forth amongst the Remnant that remain Who till then Places desolate inherit As men to be made free among the slain Without this who can Suffer Do or Preach Or stand this day in such a widened Breach Look up then Sion's Friends from things below To Jesus who was dead and is alive And hath in heart and hand for to bestow All that we need to make poor Sion thrive Though men of Might be gone Hee 's all to each Yea more than all to repair such a Breach He shall not be discouraged nor fail Till all in purpose purchase Promise true Be brought to pass also both head and tayl Of Beast and Whore receive their final due And Kings and Kingdoms out their hands shall reach Submissively to Him that heals the Breach ERRATA PAg. 8. line 24. for manifect r. manifest p. 20. l. 4. for or r. of p. 37. l. 18. for promises r. premâ—ses p. 59. l. 29. for salutations r. salvations p. 73. l. 27. for â—nd r. as p. 82. l. 31. for came r. come p. 93. l. 1. for promises r. premises p. 112. l. 26. for promises r. prophesies p. 114. l. 1. r. largeness p. 120. l. 1. for affait r. affaire p. 125 l. 1. for do ingage r. to p. 203. l. 32 for Admo r. Admi. p. 228. l. 13. f. you r. your p. 245. l. 33. r. lifegiving p. 279. l. 30. f. to r. too There are also several mis-pointings which the Judicious Reader will of himself amend FAITHS CONQUEST OVER THE TORTURES TENDERS OF An Hour of Temptation Heb. 11.35 latter part By Faith And others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection THis Chapter in the main scope of it is designed to set forth the Incomparable Excellency of Faith commending it self in the Example and Instance of many Worthies as answering to that description the Lord himself gives of it Mark 9.23 All things are possible to him that believeth the which Catalogue and Register of their Acts and Monuments is not intended meerly to preserve the memory of such men though their remeâ—brance is blessed Prov. 10.7 Psal 112.6 but mainly to recommend to the Saints and Ages to come the mighty Power of that Principle by vertue of which they believed things incredible attempted things impossible sustained things insufferable in the eye of sence and reason nothing therefore low or mean is attributed in this place nor should our aims or expectation be flat and indifferent in the contemplation thereof It 's most true this History of the famous
stayed He bringeth the counsel of the Heathen to nought and maketh the devices of the people of none effect Psal 33.10 11. It s not unusual that they fall into their own net whilst we escape Psal 141.10 Use 2. If it be but some that are Tortured and they stand distinguished by the absolute sovereignty and gracious disposal of the Lord who appoints their call anointing and season as it pleaseth him on whose will also the with-drawment of influences hereunto doth depend Then it may caution you and me to take care how we judge of men that are assisted or not assisted in point of enduring tortures It s not the smallest infirmity of this day there is a present over-valuing and under-valuing men and parties according as there appears or dis-appears an ability to endure the tortures that attend the tryal of their profession The persons of some are had in admiration because of advantage above what is written and the persons of others so dispised as if God were not able to make them stand that is a needful counsel in a case not very different Rom. 11.18 Boast not against the branches for if thou boastest thou bearest not the root but the root thee and the teaching therein hath been oftentimes enforced on me by that determination of our Lord which is admitted frequently to take place at this day Many that were last shall be first and the first last And it falls frequently under observation That men as well as things do very speedily and often countermarch and shift places Many tall Cedars who did run well suffer many things gave great ground of perswasion that they would have gone thorough have notwithstanding at one point or other faultred deserted their station and as Sampson grown weak as another man when perhaps on the same ground a poor weak believer over-looked and dispised by most hath obtained grace and strength from on high to make good that post and to walk from strength to strength in the Name of the Lord his God So that all glorying or being puffed up for one against another is excluded here Let not him boast that putteth on his Armour Use 3. Must some be tortured must all be tryed is not the day of the expectation of greater things than these yet over Then let us learn to prepare our Faith and Patience get on our Armour and gird it on take heed how you be drawn into a sleep of security from the present interval of Calm and Rest which the Lord is pleased hitherto to continue to you in a very wonderful manner Some are if not tortured yet sorely tryed and tempted while you have your mercies and opportunities so peaceable about you you should be reckoning this is a space allowed you to gather courage not to contract rust by rest but laying up a store against the evil day that question should be still with us in a way of endeavouring its resolution Seeing we look for these things what manner of People should we be standing on our guard expecting to be drawn forth and ready to comply with that Call Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity Psal 49.16 in a faithful humble Lamb-like readiness to follow Jesus Christ and witness for him though it be in tortures temptations or wherever he goeth But to proceed to some farther Observations in the words Others were tortured c. It is implyed to make up the sense at every sentence by Faith they were so although it be not so expresly named By Faith they were tortured by Faith they accepted not deliverance by Faith they looked for a better Resurrection all the famous doings and fearful undoings recorded in this Chapter are to the honour of Faith This expression therefore that comes first to hand By Faith some were tortured may be considered two wayes 1. It hath a great truth in it if we thus understand it by Faith that is by means of their Faith upon this occasion and for this reason they were tortured even their Faith This was the quarrel the Devil and World had with them viz. They were men of Faith Or else 2. The expression may be thus understood By Faith they were tortured that is they were supported in and carried through their Tortures living or dying by their Faith This was the victory that overcame the world in all these tortures even their Faith I take this latter to be most immediately aimed at in this place and sutably is my eye to prosecute it Though I take the former not to be excluded or at least we may draw some useful considerations from that sense By Faith that is upon occasion of their Faith they were quarrelled with singled out and tortured by Satan and his instruments Great Faith exposed them to great sufferings And so it is now and may afford us this Observation Doct. 3. That a lively Faith possessed and professed is that which will enrage and engage the worlds highest violence and cruelty on him that hath it I intend a very brief dispatch of this not being so immediately perhaps intended in the words and that by considering Faith as contracting and incurring this rage in a two-fold sense or respect 1. Consider we this Faith unfeigned as it is possessed or respecting its inward root and principle as it dwelleth in the hidden-man of the heart in that which is incorruptible against this and as such doth the Prince of Darkness mainly bend his batteries It s true he brings his torments to bear upon the limbs and members of the Body the sensitive part but nothing is more evident than that his design lies farther as appears by this That if by the frights or feeling of these tortures he can but get in pollution and defilement upon the soul of a poor Saint if he can but corrupt that from the simplicity or debauch that of the virginity it hath with Christ then is the offence of the Cross ceased the torments are all called off the work is done He is mad to see any soul delivered from his dominion and translated into the Kingdom of the dear Son of God and there lives by this Faith on comforts that he cannot intermedle withal derives strength and influence which he cannot obstruct is acted in a life and on principles and reasonings which have a fixed and unalterable antipathy to his former courses nay have vertue and success to make resistance to Satan oftentimes to put him to flight 1 Pet. 5.9 Jam. 4.7 And this is the Victory that so frequently overcomes not only the World 1 Joh. 5.4 but the Prince of the World 1 Joh. 4.4 Now there is little reason that we should wonder to see Satan rage and in a rage to bring his instruments of greatest cruelty to bear upon a soul that lives by Faith above him and in such an advantagious way of conquest over him as the Gates of Hell cannot prevail to do him real
most forward zealous Ring-leader of the Company Why he after he had drawn his Sword and shed blood forsook his Master and by and by denied him once and again and the third time nay cursed and swore that he never knew him What became of the rest of his Disciples in that tryal Why after that they had promised That though they should die with him they would never deny him Mat. 26.39 No sooner was he beset but they all forsook and fled and scattered every one to his own and left him alone John 16.32 These sore provocations of scorn and blasphemy falling in together with the dark administration it self of Christ's Death might well occasion this out-cry as Jacob said to his Sons Gen. 34.30 You have troubled me and made me to stink amongst the Inhabitants of the Land amongst the Canaanites and Perizzites O◠as the Israelites to Moses though by them ill applyed Exod. 5.21 You have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his Servants to put a Sword into their hands to slay us Such falls of Professors as they draw on themselves wounds that stink and are corrupted Psa 38.3 5 7. So do they cause the whole way of truth to be evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2.2 this is a lamentation Now against this putrifaction it much concerns the Saints to lay out themselves to do what they can shewing all good fidelity for the adorning and perfuming the Gospel of God in all things Titus 2.10 Having a conversation transcendantly honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak evil of them as evil-doers they may by their good works which they shall behold glorifie God c. 1 Pet. 2.12 Phil. 2.15 16 Mat. 5.15 16. Titus 2.8 Rom. 14.16 3dly There is an uncouth savour apt to arise from the very dispensation it self though we should consider it unclothed and freed from the former nasty circumstances Mortality in any respect is unpleasant dissolution is not desireable The Saints that desire to depart do not desire to be unclothed as such Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 5.4 Every such death is a sowing in some dishonour weakness the corruption also 1 Cor. 15.42 43. This is a startling to Nature Sence and Reason In the Concerns of Christ whereof we speak there is no such death besides it but some thing suffers loss it s unclothed of some seeming beauty although in the issue it be to make for a more real and substantial glory every sentence of death hath some resemblance to the King of Terrors Job 18.14 This contracts paleness upon the faces of Friends themselves Jer. 30.6 7. swooning fainting fits are apt to seize them who with Joseph weep over and kiss such corps Gen. 50.1 2. Imbalmings are needful to resist such sadnings so Prov. 27.9 Oyntment and Perfume rejoyce the heart so doth the sweetness of a man's Friend by hearty counsel Christs Sepulchre was a Grave though hewen out of a Rock and imbalming was requisite though never man lay there before Joh. 14.39 c. especially seeing weeping Visiters desired access not only unto but into the Sepulchre Mark 16.5 Joh. 20.6 8. The Grave or Cave of Lazarus fetched groans and tears from Christ himself because he loved him though he was come to raise him Joh. 11.33 35 38. The aptness of the choicest Saints to faint swoon and quail at the Grave of that Interest whose Resurrection yet they frequently expect calls for cordial confections liberally prepared for such funerals Secondly Proceed we to the Second branch under this general Head and that is To take knowledge what is the Nature of this composition of Imbalm that is proper to withstand the said ill-savour in the several respects of it about which also consider we 1. First Some general Properties or Qualities that are principally to be heeded in this Preparation 2. Secondly The special Ingredients that must concur to make up the Composition of it The former of these I shall propound under the Observation and Improvement of two or three words in her case in the text which may direct our care in this business 1. That which we bring to the Lord on the present intendment must bear proportion to hers in this quality Hers was and so must ours be very Pure Oyntment The word Spiknard the margent reads Pure-nard some think it should be translated Vpright and Perfect Nard They taking the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so signifie faithful proper pure and unmixed Nard it being liable to be adulterated vitiated and corrupted By due proportion whereunto all endeavours of ours must have this principally heeded that simplicity integrity and true sincerity do truly qualifie whatever of this kind be attempted which directs us as wel that al the ingredients be unfeigned and answerable to the pure standard without hypocrisie as also that there be nothing admitted which is of a forreign allay which will prove of a corrupting nature to all the rest We read that in the Levitical administration there was both an holy Oyntment and an holy Perfume for the special use of the Tabernacle to be compounded by special direction according to the Art of the Apothecary Exod. 30.23 24 25 34 35 36. The Spices Dose Confection and Application of it must be strictly ordered by the standard of the Sanctuary under penalty of death on the least corruption or deviation The which pointing unto Gospel-things I might shew particularly requires all manner of care that what we bring before the Lord for a sweet savour do fully answer the pattern for simplicity and godly sincerity a little evil else will spoyl much good Dead Flyes saith the Wiseman Eccles 10.1 cause the Oyntment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking savour so doth a little Folly him that is in repute for Wisdom and Honour They have need of clean hands and a pure heart that doth approach with such intendments What manner of persons ought they to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness If they lose their savour wherewith shall they be sweetned 2dly What we bring on this design must bear proportion to hers in this Her Spicknard was very precious Which expression signifieth as well the inward vertue and excellency of it as the rich price cost and value of it It might said the Disciples have been sold and such things seldom yield what they cost for three hundred pence which likely was the Roman penny by computation about seven pence half-penny of ours that amounts to about 9 l. 7 s. 6 d. sterlin So great a value to be expended at one dash on Christ by a Woman that seems to have been not one of the richest neither being so highly commended and propounded as an exemplary instance to us shews that what we bring of this kind must be in the sight of God of great price as a gracious frame of Spirit in his children is said to be even that hidden man
words Isa 38. when he had spoken hard words of God not becoming a man of his acquaintance with divine dispensations when he sayes What shall I say he hath spoken and himself hath done it I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul vers 15. Yet recollects himself vers 16. O Lord by these things men live and in all these things is the life of my spirit so wilt thou recover me and make me to live So I have a word or hint sometimes as if the Lord would say Eat a little and drink a little as if he might have some little further work for me but then old pains and not old clearness again at other seasons making me see and say Oh! how hard a thing is it to keep an even hand with God in his various dispensations So foolish was I and ignorant as that good man once said Psal 37. Sometimes as a man then as a Beast c. but 't is good for me to draw near unto God and to say though he kill me yet I will trust in him But it pleased the Lord though by very undiscernable degrees after keeping his Chamber three quarters of a year to give him a Recovery for some season after which being seized with Sickness which continued to the finishing of his dayes the following being but few of many worthy occasional sayings of his were by the same Friend carefully treasured up Being asked by a Friend Is all well within He answered All 's well there blessed be God my God the high rock of my salvation my soul hath trusted in him and shall not be ashamed His Sister discovering something of impatience at the stroak upon him threatning his dissolution he earnestly reproved her saying Oh! be more a Woman be more a Christian Is this what you told me yesterday Being then asked by a Friend Have you ought to say to us before you leave us He replied O love the Lord all ye his Saints when and wheresoever he calls to follow go after him yea though he kill you yet love him still trust him still One saying to him Yea worthy is the Lamb to receive Glory Honour Obedience and Service from all his Saints He replied He is worthy indeed for he hath redeemed me by his blood blessed be God he is my God he is my God And then said The Lord hath strangely raised me and called me to put on a very high Profession and carried me more strangely through it to this hour though it may seem to be but a poor thing in its self considered yet the Lord hath had a care of such a poor worm and hath not left me shamefully to forsake him nor hath hitherto forsaken me and blessed be my God that hath brought me into bonds for his Names sake in this day this honour have not all his Saints though they be a People near unto him but Oh! the crowning Mercy is this that I can behold my Father's face with joy and can say in some measure I have finished the work thou gavest me to do and now holy Father I come to thee I have heretofore given some account of my self to you as you may remember as to those remarkable Passages of my Life both as a Christian a Minister a Sufferer This last I am now come to put a Seal to as they have been Sufferings for Christ's Cause an◠Kingdom as God hath given him to be Head over al things to the Church which is his Body and indeed 〈◊〉 he hath appointed me sufferings for his Names sake so I must say to his praise he hath so far restraine◠mens wrath as he hath made Enemies to be at peac◠with me and friendly to me this I would comment to you my dear Friends as an Argument for ever to trust in God There is also some thing I have been under from his own hand that hath been with great pain upon me as you have been Witnesses and my sorrows here have been oft-times greater than my groanings and this last hath been well nigh oversetting at some seasons insomuch as I thought it was impossible to have born the torments laid on my poor flesh but now I see nothing is too hard for God sometimes to lay on his own Children or for his Power to bear them up under His Sister tells him You spend your self in speaking He answers Let me speak that I may be refreshed It is refreshing to me to speak of what God hath made sweet to me Then he calls for a little Julip to drink a Friend sayes to him It will be hut a little while and you will thirst no more He replyes Ah blessed are they that eat Bread in the Kingdom of our Lord and drink Wines there he will lead them by Rivers and Fountains of Living waters where they shall thirst no more and he will wipe away all tears from their eyes His Sister desired to know how he was satisfied as to his coming hither she having been the occasion as she judged of his coming from Exon to Plymouth and consequently of his coming hither He answered Very well satisfied all have been steps of divine ordering I would not have come from Exon might I have had my own will I would not have stayed in Plymouth after I had Preached once but God would have me stay I would not have come to this place after my time of suffering was out in the Town-Hall at Plymouth if I might have had my own will but God would bring me hither and blessed be the Lord that let me not have my own will blessed be God that brought me here and blest me here with desirable Company and Mercies concerning which we have had occasions and seasons to speak well of God together yea since I have been brought here and sick here yet the steps of God have been in great wisdom with me and the bottom of them all paved with Love in the main of his goings in these dark and heavy stroakes I say in the main of them they have been attended with peace to my soul I have had Old Wine or New afforded still sometimes he hath said the Old is better and hath made ancient experiences of his Love sweet to me yet not alwayes alike clear sometimes he hath seen good to cut short within and without and this last tryal to deal plainly came on in somewhat a cloud at its entrance I was somewhat stupid thinking no more in it than ordinary but I was at last awakened by the Lord to think that this might be a long and close tryal and though he let me see the Anchor dropt within the Vail yet had I not that freshness of Evidence till within a few dayes last past when he called up my Spirit to a close search in a Night or two though I said but little of it but he graciously issued that matter in a token for good that whether I live or die I hope I shall wear to
coming in a time of such weakness and when by the working of my Spleen which sent up dark and disturbing vapours clouding my imagination and made sore work within but the Lord made me see much of my own fleshly gloryings as also others in me and in my flesh which God would take down in this day of tryal when every ones work must he tryed of what sort it is even by fire and truly I was made to see to my shame much hypocrisie and formality in my converse with the Lord in one respect or other and that the Practical part of Religion I had yet arrived to little acquaintance with to what I had in dayes past but this brought me in the issue to see that I was what I was that was good only by grace and no room for flesh to glory but was brought through grace to experience this Truth that when I am weak then am I strong and that however it be yet the Lord forgetteth not his poor nor despiseth not his prisoners this is a brief account of the Way God led me in in this matter and hath so issued it that I trust through grace I shall yet come to lay down my weary head and heart in the peace of Gods speaking that will keep and carry me to the end His Friend told him here somewhat of the danger of attempting such great works under such disadvantages as these seasons and circumstances he had in these dayes past been under for such works as these minding to him That every season was not a fit season for judgement especially to be calling in question things so long and often under more clear light and leadings confirmed formerly and however that be a great Truth that every day will yet more demonstrate that we are but yet Children in Christianity far short of that manly state of things to which the present dispensation of God both publick and personal have a proper and true tendency towards which more excellent way 't is our duty to be pressing yet so to be pressing towards it as to remember both how we have heard and received and hold fast the beginning of our confidences firm unto the end that so the Tempter get not advantage against us as he doth or may do against persons ignorant of his devices But he being still weak either to speak or hear more was not said but that he his Friend was glad to see the Lord had issued the matter so well to the Preventing the Tempters design and giving his poor Servants to see how great that mercy is of all the Saints and their concerns being in Gods hand when the strength of our own hands heads and hearts fails so frequently as they do yet he remains the same for ever and in such seasons secretly succours and supports and at last brings out into a wealthy place to his own praise and encouragement of the poor and needy to trust in him at all times In the morning supposing him drawing near his end a Friend was called to him who finding him discomposed again in his head and convulsive motions renewed with shortness of breath yet soon after asking how he did He said He was a wonder unto many by reason of the rebukes of God upon him but the Lord was and he hoped would be his strong refuge to the end His Friend told him He had made know himself to him as a strong hold in this day of trouble hitherto else he had sunk under his afflictions but to â—e kept up and carried on under such great long exâ—rcises justifying God still and blessing him in giâ—ing as well as taking spake much of divine support â—iven in Yea sayes he I would not only justifie but 〈◊〉 have great reason to glorifie God as the God of my â—alvation It was answered His present posture of submission and subjection to him as the Father of Spirits was a notable way of glorifying God in the fire and giving praise to him in the Isle of the Sea And after a little pause He added He had now but a few steps more to go which he desired the Lord would also so order as he might not be left to sin against him and blessed the Lord that he had given him and yet maintained such good hope through Grace in him that he was not and hoped he should not fear to follow him through the valley of the shadow of death to which he now seemed hastning A Friend coming to him and asking him How doth this honest Watch-man Honest Watch-man saith he hath much in it to be a Watchman indeed looking out for the morn as the Watchman of Ephraim that was with his God when other watchmen are as the Prophet is said to be Hosea 9.8 A snare of a Fowler in all their wayes and hatred in the house of their God as is too evident of the Watchmen of our day by reason of deep defilements found amongst them wherefore the day of the Watchman cometh yea maketh haste now shall be their perplexity and thâ— dayes of their visitations are come the dayes of recompences are come Israel shall know it for the Lord dispensations are now very swift Being asked How he had done to Night Hâ— said I laid me down to sleep and waked again 〈◊〉 the Lord sustained me and hath not made this night night of terror by affrightning dreams and imagâ— nations as sometimes but I seem to be going on as weary traveller his way Sometimes after being asked How he did Hâ— said A poor weak creature It was answered But trust in the Lord you have strength Yea said he blessed be God everlasting strength and they that indeed trust in him shall be as Mount Zion that cannot be moved but abideth for ever for as the Mountains are round about Jerusalem so is the Lord about his People for ever A Friend telling him There was an acquaintance of his come to see him who was going to Preach amongst the poor Saints abroad He wished him prosperity in that good work saying He never found cause to repent of any of his working dayes for Christ in his life-time At the same time one coming from far to visit him and telling him He had dear Remembrances from many Friends of his who in a way of supplication with humble submission were looking to the Lord the God of all Consolation concerning him and his case He replyed He is indeed the God of all Consolation of strong Consolations which were sealed up to his soul And then added I am very much affected with this surprising visit of yours And soon after said to â—he same Friend He had in the two Nights past been graciously led and let into the understanding of that Word Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold â—he upright the end of that man is peace So as he â—as never let into it in like manner before A Friend saying How doth my Brother He â—eplyed I cannot say of you as he of old
and execute Laws which have direct threatnings and a present tendency that way toward such as you who stand in a profession of Christ's which testifieth that their works are evil This rage hath already invaded and uncovered some Families among you and multitudes in other places and all such as will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect the like not as if some strange thing hapned to them and therefore should be in daily preparation to make and leave their own such as are instructed and have learned to trust in God and to own and improve a Relation for themselves in him according to their capacity which may make an abundant supply to this lack or loss of your company and society which will turn to their great blessing and help to your confident and comfortable surrendring them up to the Lord in a way of folâ—owing him whithersoever he goeth and may call â—r dispose of you 2. These are times in which a more than ordinary disadvantage and danger is designed to spoyl and destroy both Infants and Youth not only in respect of their Schooling which must be carried on by such Tutors and under such Rules as tend to tempt and subject them to suck-in the Principles of that Apostasie and misery that the former years have been delivered from or else can hardly make any procedure in Learning requisite to accomplish them But principally are they exceeding liable to danger and destruction if the Lord wonderfully prevent not by means of their unavoidable company and converse with other youths of their growth and degree the which generally is become everywhere so wanton wicked debauched through the looseness of the times and the countenance that all filthiness finds where it ought to be punished and restrained that unless your Children and Servants be through a blessing on your Prayers and Endeavours in-laid with good Principles in awakened Conscience followed with constant Instruction and an exemplary Conversation with a wise moderated steady discipline it will be a marvellous thing if thâ—y be not utterly spoiled become a scourge and torment to you and at length repent that ever they saw you and perish in the gain-sayings of this wicked and adulterous generation 3. The dayes that have passed over you havâ— been dayes of the Lord 's wonderful Salvations and the stretching forth of his Arm in these Nations to dâ— marvellous things toward the getting himself a glorious Name The putting away the remembrance oâ— which from under Heaven and razing out of all thâ— marks and monuments thereof is the manifest design of the wicked men of this generation The memory whereof as it alwayes ought to be dear to you who have been blessed in those Salvations and have sung his praise So should it be your great care to preserve the same by teaching and instructing those committed to your charge therein and that not only in the History and Letter of them the very memory whereof will be famous in the ages to come but especially in the inward Principles Springs and Spirit of them as well as the issues whereunto they were by the Lord intended that yours may be able to tell the generations to come and the people uncreated may praise the Lord. Which things your off-spring will only be capable to understand and sutably to comply with the Lords motions and designs therein when they shall be spiritually instructed in and experimentally acquainted with the way and operations of the Lord on the Spirits of his People to which your utmost diligence is indispensibly required as ever you would glorifie God in your generation 4. Moreover you generally profess your selves to be such as expect glorious dayes to succeed the deep tryals that are or are coming on upon the heritage of the Lord and do you not wish so well to your own as to do what in you lies that they should have a share in that Salvation which your selves have professed longed prayed laboured suffered for And how think you will they be capable of bearing that glory or suppose there be yet a reserve of tryals for them that are to usher it in which will be very full of power and purity unless they be indeed brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord instructed in Christ as the Truth is in him and from a fellowship in his Spirit brought within the compass of the rich and glorious Promises which shall manifest and convey the blessed things unto the Ages to come that instead of the Fathers may be the Children 5. Add hereunto that the force and violence of this evil time is such as doth drive you frequently and may yet be expected to drive you more from your stated seasons on the first dayes of the Week and other times of following the Lord in those solemn publick Appointments and Institutions of the Gospel unto your Family retirements at least a great part of your time in those dayes the which affords you more enlarged opportunities than you had formerly to teach and instruct your own houshoulds great and small according to their capacity in the things of the Kingdom to the which you are concerned to give all heed diligence and indeavour not in any neglect of opportunities in the Assemblies of the Saints while they do continue or may be had but when there is an interval the solemn exercises in the Church being ended or when through force and fury they shall if the Lord shall permit them to be so utterly broken as you should be reduced again to that ancient way of the Saints being governed as in Abrahams and the Patriarchs time in Family-Worship You are I say so much the more concerned to set your selves vigorously to this work of endeavouring that your houses may become as so many Churches of Christ in respect of that Instruction reading the Scriptures Praying gracious Conference Discipline exemplary Walking in all holy Conversation and Godliness which ought to be professed and maintained in beauty set in majesty among them and in this sense to be setting your houses in order for you know not how soon these very staves of beauty and bands may be violently invaded disturbed and broken by the same spirit of hatred which now offers force to your more solemn Assemblings While therefore you have this price in your hand this undisturbed opportunity you should be doing this good I hope I need not largely follow these with other Arguments which might be drawn out at length from the inestimable value of their immortal souls the redemption whereof is precious which now are committed to your care and over-sight and will be strictly required at your hands in the day of Accompts that draweth nigh and that the rather for that now is their making or marring time which effects you may expect will and frequently do follow according as you either are found in the due and diligent discharge of your duty among them or are negligent and remiss therein Little it is considered and laid
such as neither Saints nor Sinners methinks durst adventure much upon yet many go on in the simplicity of their hearts to try if perhaps they may do the least service to help the desired work forward to its just issues I am apt to think you see enough of Lamentation in the divisions of Reuben that make such searchings of heart the same Cloud as I was saying last extends hither and the Effects are the same I suppose here and there They that have gone hand in hand in their mourning hitherto seem necessitated to part and yet neither sing nor weep mutually at parting but a spirit seems to sunder them that is not likely to carry them far without miscarriage But it 's no wonder to see a sinful Nation a People laden with iniquity fuller of passions than of compassions divided and lose one another in a season when it seems neither day nor night and about a work that is so fitted to set out thâ— manifold wisdom of God as if the Maker of Heaven and Earth had reserved his work his strange work his act his strange act till last and left this inscription on every footstep he takes Yet he will shew him greater works than these that ye may marvel Joh. 5.20 They of all have the crowning mercy who are thought worthy to have that Righteous man's portion to be called to the foot of God Isa 41.2 Deut. 33.3 A very holy Evangelical large Spirit is only fitted to comply with what our God is doing Blessed are all they that wait on him These Parts afford no Intelligence only Evil-men and Seducers wax worse and worse mens hearts are failing for fear and for looking for the things that are coming on upon the Earth while the Powers of Heaven and the Pillars of the Earth are shaking I find few seriously enquiring in any other than a superficial Spirit What must the Righteous do Our very Character seems to be a People void of counsel I am Yours in spiritual affection knit to you waiting to obtain relation to you in all the will of our King A. C. To a Friend with Arguments for Patient waiting The Lord be your shade upon your Right-Hand My Dear I Have sometimes had Instruction and conceived engagement from that word 2 Kings 3.16 17 to dig pits till the rain fill the pools Ye shall not seâ— wind neither shall ye see rain yet the valley shall bâ— filled with water that ye may drink c. The latteâ— dayes work hath Promises prepared and proportioned to a design of magnifying the Naked Arm oâ— God in the spoyling the Glory sealing up the hand and hiding pride of every man And this advantagâ— have we beyond our Predecessors that the Lord hath made eminent evident advances upon this Work iâ— our view and remembrance having given us as in a little Map a lively description and testimony of what he both can and will do for his Names sake and he having been at work in a way of Wonders nay proceeding to do very terrible things still he expecteth we should be following him in a Faith and expectation of great things Joel 2.21 That was a very good advice Job 5.8 c. I would seek unto God and unto God would I commit my cause which doth great things and unsearchable marvellous things without number who giveth rain upon the Earth and sendeth waters upon the Fields to set up on high those that be low that those which mourn may â—e exalted to safety vers 16. So that the poor hath Hope and Iniquity stoppeth her mouth This is a day wherein the Lord 's great Contests seem to be drawing towards a determination and period all Interests and Preparations seem hastning their march â—oward the Valley of Decision Thither bring down â—hy Mighty ones O God! Ah! how should we be wakening up our selves and others to look about us that we be not found naked unclothed unwarnâ—d unarmed and the day over-take us as it may â—nd will do others at unawares How may we see â—n every quarter Idolatrous and Prophane persons â—trengthning and stretching one another to the utmost â—xtent of Abomimation and should not this yield â—n enforcing Argument to quicken us up for Christ â—o look and lay about us to engage as many as is â—ossible to be on the Lord's side lively valiant viâ—ilant with the Arm and Armour of God on the â—ight hand and on the left as those who are in an â—xpectation of following the Lamb on the Mount â—ion under those Virgin qualifications as bespeaks them Called Chosen and Faithful And that to this end we admit not impressions to be made on our Spirits to the abatements either of our Light or Life in following on to know the Lord from either our fear at the swellings of Jordan without or offence vexation or inordinate grief and dispondency at the discords and inconsistencies of the Saints within I must confess this Prison hath produced a fresh tryal of Spirit to me of late beyond what hitherto I have ordinarily observed and experienced it to see the abounding encreasing filthiness of this prophane Family the Governors and Governed in it being set upon the impudence of Abomination not only slighting and hating Reproof but daring us and Heaven with their Oaths Curses Singing Roaring Rageing c. insomuch as were not the goodness of God and of his Cause a relieving support the place would become a Prison indeed but this I take to be buâ— as a little Scheme of a great World of Wickedness How great is that Grace that gives ground to say We know we are of God while the poor World lieâ— thus in wickedness Ah poor England Oh thaâ— my head were waters Yours c. To a Friend encouraging to stedfastness Light arising out of obscurity and darkness My honoured Friend THe principal intendment of this is to let you know that through Grace I am preserved alive in the midst of many cooling and killing dispensations of Providence yet hath not the length nor strength of the pressures been hitherto admitted to draw my Soul into any dislike of the hand that layes them on or of the Cause for which at mens hand I endure this hard usage but the more I am led either to behold the true principles of this Cause or the gracious engagements and endearments of the heart of Christ in and to it and to those who in a spirit of Faith and faithfulness adhere to it and are the Confessors of it or to call over the gracious experiences that my self and fellow-sufferers in other places have had and testified the dearer hath it and every part and point of it been made unto me and the more confidently am I satisfied that the Lord will appear to the shame of those Prophane or Professors who are either the open enemies or secret betrayers of it and weakners of the Friends and Favourites thereof And truly I wish your soul may stand at due distance from any defilements and