197 Cause A good Cause may be lost by too much depending on it Page 388 Comfort see beasts Commands Commands to superstition usually find obedience Page 473 Communion How communion is defiled by the presence of wicked men Page 373 Creature The good or evil of the creature depends upon man Page 67 Contend God contends not without cause Page 21 God contends not for little things Page 22 Condition The condition of the person offending aggravates the sin Page 118 The poor condition of such as are rich only in this world Page 434 Conscience How pride of conscience may be discerned Page 395 Contempt Contempt of the word a constant companion to Idolatry Page 363 Controversie Controversies between them that are neer are grievous controversies Page 2 The controversie of Gods with sinners is very grievous Page 5 Gods controversie against England Page 8 Gods controversie with Covenant-breakers is dreadfull Page 26 Covetousness The covetousness of Priests Page 93 Counsels Perplexed counsels are a fearful judgment to a Nation Page 170 Court see Evil Curiosity see Superstition Carnal see Agreements Carthaginians The Carthaginians Law concerning Magistrates Page 660 Christ Christ became miserable for our consolation Page 548 Christs speech of neglect of parents expounded Page 604 Choice see Spirits Clouds Clouds and dew passing what it implies Page 576 Communicative see Nature Consolation Consolation to those whose friends have perished in Gods Cause Page 589 Comfort see God Consideration What considerations move men best to turn to God Page 536 Correction see Means Court see Idolatry Church see Assemblies Courage Motives to courage Page 535 Covenant The Covenant which God hath made with man is three-fold Page 622 The portion of Covenant-breakers Page 686 Cut-down How to know when a man is cut down Page 595 D Danger The danger of forsaking the truth Page 386 The danger of depending upon duties Page 403 Dangerous It is dangerous to venture upon the beginnings of false worship Page 354 It is dangerous to be deeply rooted in superstition Page 355 Defiled Defiled worship defiles the soul Page 372 Defiled see Nation Defilement A twofold defilement Page 371 Deny We should deny our selves to promote the true worship of God Page 357 Disappointment Disappointment brings shame Page 326 Distinction There ought to be a distinction made between the children of wicked and of godly Ministers Page 130 Disrespect Disrespect breeds shame Page 325 Divination How the Heathens were wont to divine by staves Page 134 Dogs Wicked men are dogs Page 73 Duty What the duty of Ministers is Page 141 What the duty of Christians is Page 474 Dying What a dying and terrified conscience is Page 500 Danger Danger see Night Daies see Festival Difference Dangerous It is dangerous to men to let good beginnings fall Page 583 See Hypocrisie Daniels case in prayer opened Page 611 Deliverance All deliverance comes from heaven Page 566 Destruction see wilfulness Difference Difference between Gods setting daies apart and mans setting daies apart Page 661 Discovery see Morning Duties see Natural Drunkenness Drunkenness brings diseases Page 663 E Education The custom of the Romans concerning the education of their children Page 421 Emperor Emperors called and accounted the Popes Dogs Page 117 England England admonished Page 86 A warning for England Page 375 see Controversie End The end of duties is to find out God Page 411 Evil The reason why there was so much evil at Court Page 115 See Punishment Example The example of wicked parents is not to be followed by their children Page 429 Excellency The excellency of grace makes sin the worse Page 179 Experience Experience of our late Prelates Page 358 Emperor An Emperor may be kept from the Sacrament Page 577 England The men of England of perverse spirits Page 572 Englands superstition reproved Page 589 England guilty of blood by calling murder manslaughter Page 627 Englands wickedness Page 641 Evil see Slander Excuses Mens excuses Page 570 Exhortation Exhortations to mercy Page 615 Experience The Saints experience Page 564 Expostulation see Form Expressions Scripture expressions against formality Page 621 F False worship The evils false worship doth in a Nation Page 138 Families The families of wicked Ministers are many times forgotten Page 97 Failings God looks not at the particular failings of a State Page 382 Flower The glory of the world is but as a flower Page 64 Formal God delights not in formal professors Page 412 Framing Notes of framing ones heart to the will of God Page 381 Faith Faith makes God real in the saddest condition Page 542 An eminent prop of faith Page 548 See Unworthiness and Repentance False Prophets False Ptophets are not to be followed Page 588 False Worship False Worship is to be trembled at Page 633 Festival daies Festival daies are usually distempering daies Page 664 Form A form of expostulation with ones soul Page 570 G Gilgal Wherein Gilgal was famous Page 183 Given A dreadful thing to be given over of God and why Page 207 Glory see Flower God God is a God of truth Page 23 God is no respecter of person Page 118 We should seriously mind what God doth Page 338 Gods pleading with man is not to be neglected Page 345 How God rebukes men Page 363 God will deal with men according to their present waies Page 370 God is not engaged to any Page 402 God delights most in his second right Page 405 God will not alwaies be found Page 411 God never smites a people before he warns them Page 452 God is a moth and rottenness and how Page 477 See Real Controversy Contend Punish Wrath Holiness Good works The good works of the Saints shall return unto them Page 121 Governors Governors of families should be careful of their families Page 154 The Governors of the people are usually the causes of the evils of the people Page 198 See Rulers Grace see Excellency God God will have glory from men Page 516 Gods usual way of comforting his people Page 520 God works by contraries Page 540 God doth not willingly grieve men Page 669 See Heart Keep Leave Penitent Mercies bound Governors see Wicked Great-men Great men are not easily reformed Page 577 Grounded We must be well grounded in the cause we suffer for Page 540 H Hard Hard truths are hardly born Page 2 The signs of an hard heart Page 515 Heathens Why the Heathens sacrificed undrr trees Page 149 A notable speech of an Heathen Page 552 Heart The secrets of mans heart are known to God Page 367 The heart of man is knotty Page 593 See Framing Argument Hard Note Herod Herods mercy in time of famine Page 30 Holiness God putteth a stamp of holiness upon the places he chuseth Page 143 Hope There is little hope of private means when publick means fail Page 85 Humble An humble man knows much of the mind of Christ Page 396 Help We should help those that suffer for a good cause Page 574 Heal How God healeth Page 640 Hypocrites see
secrets of mens hearts Page 367 Use 1 Then all Hypocrites must needs be Atheists ibid Use 2 Admire at the patience of God Page 368 Use 3 Pray to God to make known your own hearts to your selves ib. Obs 2 Gods eye upon our hearts and waies is a special means to humble us Page 369 Obs 3 God will deal with men according to their present waies Page 370 Use Here 's hope for repenting sinners Obs 4. Defiled worship exceedingly defiles the souls of people Page 372 Objection Doth the mixture of the wicked defile the worship of God Answer 1 The best Church in the world may have wicked men in it Page 272 Answer 2 The Sacrament is not defiled to the receivers for the presence of wicked men ibid Question How shall we distinguish mixture of Communion Answer 1 The Congregation is defiled if they do not use the power Christ hath given them Page 373 Answer 2 Particular persons are defiled when they neglect the duty belongs to them Page 374 Obs 5. A defiled Nation is neer unto ruin ibid VERS IV. Opened Page 376 Applyed to England Page 379 Obs 1. Apostates have seldom any inclination to turn to God Page 384 Obs 2. True repentance is not only to leave evil and do good but to turn unto God as our God Page 385 Obs 3. It is Gods just judgment to leave men to the Devil to be blinded when they forsake him and his truth Page 386 Obs 4. Impetuousness of spirit blinds the mind Page 388 Use When we come to examin truths let us look to our spirits Page 389 VERS V. Obs 1. Ignorance and pride usually goes together Page 390 Obs 2. Idolaters are proud men Page 391 1 They look upon Gods worship as a mean thing ibid 2 They put more upon the creature than God hath Page 392 3 They prescribe to God which way he shall be worshiped ibid 4 They honor their own waies because they are their own ibid Obs 3. The spirit of sin is casting down Page 397 Obs 4. Pride goes before a fall ibid 1 A proud man goes from God ibid 2 He goes against God ibid 3 He goes beyond God Page 398 4 He goes above God ibid Obs 5. It is a great aggravation for any one to think what misery he brings others into Page 399 Obs 6. It is no plea for any to say they follow the example of others Page 400 Obs 7. If Gods people comply with wicked men they must expect to fall with them in outward judgments ibid Use Why so many fall in these times Obs 8. The falling of the Saints with wickedmen is of special consideration Page 401 1 God would have us take notice how holy he is ibid 2 He would have none presume on former services Page 402 3 God is not engaged to any if they transgress ibid Use 1 God can be without men Page 403 Use 2 Admonition to wicked men ibid VERS VI. Obs 1. Those that depend upon duties are in a destraction when their duties prevail not Page 403 Obs 2. God contemneth the services of Hypocrites superstitious and Idolatrous persons Page 404 Obs 3. It is a sad thing when God will not own as his what we tender up to him ibid Obs 4. Idolatrous and superstitious people are abundant in their services Page 406 Obs 5. Idolatrus and superstitious people will spare no cost in their own waies Page 407 Obs 6. There is a time when vile and wicked men shall see a need of God ibid Obs 7. The vilest Idolaters that can be pretend to seek God as well as any Page 408 Use Take heed of such pretenders Page 409 Obs 8. Superstitious and Idolatrous men are most aboundant in their services in the time of affliction Page 409 Obs 9. Carnal professors think to make God amends for former failings by outward performances Page 410 Obs 10. If God be to be found any where he is to be found in his Ordinances ib. Obs 11. The end of all holy duties should be to find God in them Page 411 Obs 12. God will not alwaies be found when he is sought ib. 1. When men seek him in a superstitious way ibid 2. When we seek our selves rather than God ib. 3. When we do not seek God as a God ibid 4. When we seek him too late Page 412 Obs 13 God delights not in superstitious and formal professors ib. Obs 14. It is a sad thing when God withdraws from the creature when he seeks him in distress Page 413 1. God puts a dishonor upon him ibid 2. No creature can help us Page 414 3. Some great judgment must be expected ib. 4. No protection can be expected ib. 5. Conscience flies in ones face ib. 6. It is a fore-runner of his eternal withdrawing ib. Question Doth not God withdraw Himself from his Saints Answer 1. They retain good thoughts of him in his absence Page 415 Answer 2. He draweth their hearts after him to cry more earnestly ib. Answer 3. He leaveth some light behind him that they may see which way he is gone Page 416 Answer 4. His bowels yern towards them ibid Answer 5. Nothing will satisfie them till God come again ibid Answer 6. He doth not utterly forsake them ibid VERS VII Opened Page 417 Obs 1. When wicked men come to seek God God looks upon the wickedness of their hearts Page 419 Obs 2 The sins of such as are in covenant with God are sins of treachery Page 420 Applyed to our times ib. Obs 3 Parents have the charge of their children committed to them by God Page 424 Obs 4. Children are usually as their parents are and education is Page 426 Use 1 To such as are well educated ibid 2 To such as are ill educated ibid Obs 5. It is a dangerous thing for children to follow the example of their parents in wickedness Page 427 Use Children ought to examin their parents waies ibid Obs 6 When the succeeding generation is wicked there is little hope of such a people Page 428 Obs 7 God takes it exceeding ill at mens hands when they corrupt their young ones Page 429 Obs 8 God hath a set time to reckon with sinners Page 433 Obs 9. This set time is the time of their destruction ibid Obs 10. The more special the providence of God is in mercy the more severe are his judgments if provoked Page 434 Obs 11 A carnal man hath his portion in this world only ibid VERS VIII Obs 1. When a people is in danger of Gods wrath it is high time for them to awake Page 436 Obs 2. When danger is apprehended as present and real it takes the heart wast Page 438 Obs 3. Ministers of God must make the things they preach as real before the peoples eyes Page 439 Obs 4. Ministers if their ambassage of peace be slighted must denounce war Page 441 Obs 5. Gods displeasure of sin is the cause of war in a land ibid Obs 6. Superstitious places are in greatest distress
now and you that have prayed before quicken up your diligence and double your care How much better it it to seek God than men to cry to God for mercy than to cursed men God might have made your condition to have bin the condition of your brethren How many are this day running for their lives and begging of their lives at the hands of barbarous merciless blood-sucking monsters and you are yet in peace seeking your God for your selves and them But it may be asked Why should we seek God Quest Can we do any thing to move God Will God be ever the sooner intreated by us I answer No that is not the meaning of the words Answ that we can alter or change Gods mind but such exhortations as these are to make us fit and to prepare us for mercy to boyl and raise our spirits to a sutable frame and disposition for mercies expected and looked for And thus we leave this rich Mine of the fifth Chapter which hath been so fruiâ—ful in affording many choice truths and come to the sixt Chapter a rich Mine also of heavenly and most seasonable Directions no less useful than the former THE CONTENTS CHAP. VI. VERS I. Observ 1. WHen Gods time of mercy is come He puts a spirit of seeking into men Page 531 Obs 2 A joynt turning to God is very honorable Ibid Obs 3 Times of mercy are joyning times Page 532 Obs 4 A true penitent heart seeks to get others to joyn with him ibid Obs 5 A penitent heart retains good thoughts of God in time of suffering ibid Obs 6 A penitent heart is not discouraged Page 534 Obs 7 When God intends good to a people he leaves them intimation of his love Page 536 Obs 8. Apprehension of mercie causes the heart to turn Page 537 Obs 9 The Saints make their healing not a fruit of their returning but of Gods mercy ib. VERS II. Opened Page 538 Obs 1 Gods own people may lie for dead in their own eyes Page 540 Use 1 Do not draw dark conclusions from Gods dealing ibid Use 2 Be not impatient in prayer Page 541 Obs 2 Gods reviving his people is not long in Gods nor the Saints eyes Page 542 Obs 3 Faith makes Gods reviving real in the saddest condition ibid Obs 4 Mercies after two daies death are reviving mercies Page 544 Obs 5 The real sight of deliverance puts the soul upon returning Page 547 Obs 6 The apprehension of the death and resurrection of Christ is a special help to faith in affliction Page 549 Obs 7 When God grants mercies he would have his people to be of lively spirits Page 549 Obs 8 When God is reconciled to a people his face is towards them ibid Obs 9 The eye of God upon his people is their safety Page 550 Obs 10 Gods peoples life consists in Gods favor ib. Obs 11 Faith raiseth the soul high ibid Obs 12 It is the care of the Saints to walk as in Gods sight Page 551 VERS III. Obs 1. True penitents turn to God that they may know God Page 554 Obs 2 No man can turn to God but as Gods face is towards him Page 555 Obs 3 The knowledg of God is a very comfortable thing to the Saints ibid Obs 4 The more men turn to God the more they shall know of him ibid Obs 5 Those that know somthing of God desire to know more Page 556 Obs 6 A gracious heart endeavors strongly after the knowledg of God ibid Obs 7 It is a blessed thing for a man to take notice of Gods revealings Page 557 Obs 8 Those that follow on to know God shall know more of him ib. Obs 9 One mercy makes way for another Page 558 Obs 10 The times of Gods delivery is in the morning Page 561. Obs 11 The Church hath no afflictions but there comes a morning after them ibid Obs 12 It is Gods presence that makes the morning to the Saints ibid Obs 13. Gods mercies to his people are prepared and decreed Page 562 Obs 14 The Saints in affliction comfort themselves that morning is coming ibid Obs 15 The Saints night is darkest a little before their deliverance ibid Obs 16 Gods delivery is by degrees ibid Obs 17 Gods deliverance is like rain to the corn ibid Obs 18 Gods mercies to his people are seasonable and sutable Page 563 Use Let us be seasonable in duty Page 565 Obs 19 When God hath begun with mercy to his people he will go on Page 566 Use Let us do so with God in obedience ibid Obs 20 Gods mercies to his people procure much good ib. Obs 21 Gods peoples deliverance comes from heaven ib. Obs 22 Gods peoples deliverance cannot be hindred Page 567 Obs 23 We should make a spiritual use of Gods works in his creatures ibid VERS IV. Obs 1 God doth not willingly grieve men Page 569 Obs 2 We should not think much to lose our pains with others ibid Obs 3 It it a speceal means to humble men to consider what means hath been used to do them good Page 570 Obs 4 God many times seems to be in a straight what to do with men ib. Obs 5 The condition of people is sad when no means will do them good Page 572 Obs 6 It goes nigh the heart of God to see men perverse ibid Obs 7 For a man to make good beginnings and let them fall is grievous to God and dangerous to a mans self Page 581 Grievous to God 1 Because God is holy Page 582 2 He is unchangable ib. 3 It stifles the conceptions of the spirit ibid 4 Such people cannot be trusted ibid 5 There is no fear of God before their eyes ibid 6 It pollutes Gods Name ib. 7 Religion is looked upon by such as a thing indifferent ibid 8 They never had good beginnings ibid Dangerous to a mans self 1 Because we lose many opportunities Page 583 2 We shall never grow to any eminency ibid 3 It hardens the heart ibid 4 It aggravates sin ibid 5 It spoils the acception of our services ibid 6 It damps our hearts in duty ibid Means to persevere 1 Trust not in suddain flashes Page 584 2 Get your hearts off from earthly engagements Page 585 3 Take heed of secret sins ib. 4. Take often accompt of your hearts ib 5 Never trust your hearts after reviving ib. 6 Humble your selves after good desires Page 586 7 Rest not in beginnings Page 587 VERS V Obs 1 When God comes against false Prophets he looks the people should not be led by them Page 588 Obs 2 Inconstancy in Religion provokes Gods anger Page 592 Obs 3 Many mens hearts are like knotty timber Page 593 Obs 4 Gods Ministers are hewers ibid Obs 5 When Ministers hew God hews Page 594 Obs 6 Gods Ministers are Gods tools Page 595 Obs 7 Gods Ministers are Gods mouth Page 596 Obs 8 The Word of God is of great power ibid Obs 9 Gods judgments lie dark when men go on in a
come in Gods Name to reprove is a great aggravation of sin and hastning of judgment Page 81 Obs 9. If publick means prevail not there is little hope of private Page 84. VERS V. Obs 1. Those in office must go on though they be striven against Page 85 Obs 2. When a threatning comes to particulars then it works ib. Obs 3 The falls of the Prophets are falls in the night Page 87 Obs 4. It is a sad judgment for people in affliction to have no Prophet amongst them ibid VERS VI. Obs 1. Ignorance is both father and mother of distruction Page 90 1. The rational creature is working in the midst of snares ib. 2. The way to eternity is in the midst of a hundred cross waies Page 91 3. Man must not go with his own light ib. 4. Our work is a most curious work ib. 5. Ignorance makes men objects of Gods hatred ib. Use 1. How vile a thing it is to deny the means of knowledg to men to satisfie the humors of others Page 92 Use 2. Hopes for England because the knowledge of God begins to shine in it ib. Obs 2. Suffering truths will hardly go down with many Ministers Page 94 Obs 3. There is a peculiar way of Gods rejecting wicked Ministers Page 95 Obs 4. Vnfaithfulness in service provokes God to cast men out of service Page 96 Obs 5. It is a great judgment to be rejected from the Priests office ibid Obs 6. It is a blessing for godly children of godly Ministers to succeed them in their office Page 97 Obs 7. The families of wicked Ministers are many times forgotten ibid VERS VII Obs 1. It is a usual thing where there is encrease of number to be encrease in sin Page 98 Obs 2. It is mens vile disposition to encrease in sin as they encrease in mercies Page 99 Obs 3. God doth love to stain the pride and haughtiness of man Page 100 Obs 4. It is usual with wicked Priests if they be countenanced by authority to glory Page 102 VERS VIII Opened Page 104 VERS IX Obs 1. Evil Ministers in a country are the causes of miseries in the country Page 112 Obs 2. If Priest and People be alike in sin God will make them alike in punishment ibid Obs 3. Look how Ministers are so usually the people are Page 114 Obs 4. God hath his daies of visitation wherein he will narrowly enquire into the waies of men Page 119 Obs 6. God will call men to an accompt for their thoughts Page 120 Obs 7. Wickedness in thought is the worst wickedness ibid Obs 8. Sin passeth away in the act with much sweetness but God will make it return in the guilt with much bitterness Page 120 Obs 9. The good works of the Saints shall return again with much comfort and peace Page 121 VERS X. Obs 1. Whatsoever a man undertakes unlawfully he can never expect to prosper Page 124 Use It is the best way to keep us to Gods Ordinances Obs 2. Idolaters seldom come in and return Page 125 Obs 3. Take heed of your not taking heed Page 126 Obs 4. The way to keep the heart and life in order and obedience is to take heed to the Lord. ibid Obs 5. All things in Gods worship should be according to Gods rule Page 127 Use Take heed of Idolatry ibid VERS XI Opened Page 128 Obs 1 It is just with God that those that will not seek to satisfie themselves in him should be given over to the sinful lusts of the flesh Page 129 Obs 2. Sensuallity is a besotting sin ibid Obs 3. Ministers when once they grow negligent usually grow sensual Page 132 VERS XII Obs 1. Bodily and spiritual whoredom usually go together Page 133 Use We are not to marvail that such as seem to be men of understanding are given to Idolatry ibid Obs 2. What poor waies Idolaters had to know the minds of their gods Page 135 Use Let us bless God that we have his word ibid Obs 3. There is an eagerness of spirit in men to things that are evil ibid Use 1. Look to your spirits when you find an eagerness in them to a thing Page 136 Use 2. Labor to be acted by the Spirit of God Page 137 Use 3. Pray to God that he would satisfie us not only in body and in soul but in spirit ibid Obs 4. All false worship doth put a man from the protection of God Page 138 Obs 5. So far as we are from being under Gods command so far we are from being under his protection Page 129 VERS XIII Obs 1. General accusations without particular specification will not prevail with stubborn hearts Page 140 Use Godly Ministers must not leave things in general if they would convince ibid Obs 2. What seems most specious in our eyes if it be not according to the rule may be most abominable in the eyes of God Page 141 Obs 3. Ministers ought to present to the people the foulness of those things that they think have least evil in them ib. Obs 4. When God chuseth a place he puts a stamp of holiness upon the place Page 143 Obs 5. Idolatry is brazen faced and loves to be publick Page 148 Use Labor to make the worship of God as publick ibid Obs 6. When the Ordinances of the Gospel come to be publick then it is time for Babylon to fall ibid Obs 7. Idolaters seek to rise to the height of their way in false worship ibid Use Let us labor to do so in Gods worship ibid Why they sacrificed under trees 1. Because the Heathens dedicated the trees to their gods Page 149 2. In imitation of the Patriarchs ibid 3. The shadiness of the place struck some reverence in the hearts of men ibid 4. They thought the spirits of their Worthies were there Page 150 5. They were fit places for the committing of filthiness ibid 6. They conceited God was the more honored by it ibid Obs 8. Superstition thinks it hath a great deal of reason for what it doth Page 151 Obs 9. It is the pride of mens spirits to think Gods Ordinances are too plain ibid Obs 10. God sometimes punisheth sin with sin Page 152 Obs 11. It is a great reproach for any family to have uncleanness committed in it Page 154 Use Let Governors have a care of their families ibid Obs 12. Our unfaithfulness with God is made more sensible when those that dwell neer us are unfaithful to us ibid Instances 1. When our children are stubborn Page 155 2. Ill wives ibid 3. Friends unfaithful Page 156 VERS XIV Opened Page 157 Obs 1. It is one of the most fearful judgments in all the world for the Lord not to restrain men from sinning Page 158 Obs 2. When parents are filthy and unclean what can be expected but their children should be so too Page 161 Use Take heed how you sin before your children ibid Obs 3. Those that are filthy and unclean will sometimes make shew of Religion Page 162
Obs 4. Idolaters are no understanding people Page 165 Applyed to our times Page 167 Obs 5. It is a fearful judgement of God to leave men to perplexed councels Page 170 Obs 6. When wicked men are fallen they shal be so perplexed that they shall not know what to do Page 170 VERS XV. Obs 1. Ministers should especially look to those whom they are bound unto by office yet so as to labor to do good to others Page 171 Obs 2. When we see our labor lost to some we should try to do good to others ibid Obs 3. To be neer Idolaters is very dangerous Page 172 Obs 4. The neerer a false worship comes to a true one the more dangerous it is Page 174 Obs 5. Those that enjoy Gods Ordinances in a true way should take heed of doing as other people do Page 175 Obs 6. We must not do as others do in point of Gods worship Page 177 Obs 7 It goes neerer the heart of God when his People offend than when others do Page 178 Reas 1. There is more unkindness in their sins Page 179 2 There is more unfaithfulness in them ibid 3 Gods Name is more polluted by them ibid 4. The excellency of their graces makes their sins worse ibid 5. They go neerer the heart of the Saints than the sins of others Page 180 Application to our times ibid Obs 8. We must not come neer places that are dangerous to draw us to sin Page 186 Obs 9. Places corrupted lose their honor Page 188 VERS XVI Opened Page 192 Obs 1. Liberty may prove to be ones misery Page 195 VERS XVII Opened Page 196 Obs 1. Wicked children are great dishonors to their parents Page 197 Obs 2. Governors are usually the causes of the evils of the people Page 198 Obs 3. Idolaters hearts are strangely glued to the waies of Idolatry Page 200 Use Joyn your selves to Jesus Christ Page 201 Obs 4 We must take heed of communicating with Idolaters in their false waies Page 202 Obs 5. It is a heavy judgment upon a people when the Saints withdraw from them ibid Obs 6 God hath a time to give men over to themselves Page 205 1 Because he hath no need of them Page 206 2 He hath another way to fetch glory from them ibid Obs 7 It is the most woful judgment upon a people or person when God lets them alone in sin ibid 1 It is a testimony of disrespect in God Page 207 2 These are going apace into misery ibid 3 They are in the midst of abundance of dangers Page 208 4 God intends to make way for some fearful wrath to come upon them ibid 5 He will not vouchsafe to hear them speak to him ibid 6 It is a dreadful sign of Reprobation Page 209 7 It is greater than all earthly judgments Page 210 8 It is worse than to be given up to the Devil Page 211 9 It is worse than to be sent to Hell presently Page 212 10 Though he be without grace he must answer for it as though he had it Page 212 11 All means of grace are made improfitable to him Page 213 Use 1 See what poor creatures men are ibid Use 2 Let us fear and tremble at this judgment ibid Object I fear God hath laid this judgment upon me Answer 1 It is a good sign that thou art troubled with such a fear Page 214 Answer 2 It is a good means to keep thee from being let alone ibid Answer 3 If thou hast not a heart to let God alone God hath not a heart to let thee alone ibid Use 3 Blesse God that he hath not inflicted this judgment upon thee Page 215 2 Blesse God that he hath not inflicted it upon the Kingdom ib. VERS XVIII Opened Page 217 Obs 1 Rulers should be shields to the people where they live Page 219 Application to our times Page 220 VERS XIX Obs 1 Such as are superstitious look upon Gods Ordinances as vile and their own inventions as glorious Page 325 Obs 2 The judgments of God upon wicked men who have been spared a long time come violently ibid Causes of shame 1 Disrespect from those we desire honor from Page 326 2 When a man takes a great deal of pains and it comes to nothing Page 327 3 Disappointment of hope ibid 4 When God discovers that to be vile which a man glorieth in ib. Use Admonition to the superstitious to take shame to themselves Page 328 Obs 3 God hath a time to make all Idolaters ashamed of their sacrifices Page 332 Obs 4 Duties performed with a carnal heart are mixed with base ends ibid Obs 5 Our sacrifices are defiled by the foulnesse of our hearts ibid Question What are those sacrifices we should render to God and not be ashamed of Answer 1 Be sure they be his own Page 333 Answer 2 Let them come from faith Page 334 Answer 3 Let your ends be high ibid Answer 4 Let your whol strength be taken up in them ibid Answer 5 Offer up your selves a sacrifice to God ibid Answer 6 Be humbled after all your best services Page 335 Answer 7 Tender up all in Christ Page 336 CHAP. V. VERS I. Opened Page 337 Obs 1 When God comes in judgment he expects we should seriously mind what he is doing Page 338 Obs 2 Generallity in sins is no way to escape judgment ibid Obs 3. The Priests have usually been the causes of wickednesse in and judgments on a nation Page 339 Obs 4 The people will go the way the King and Priests go ibid Obs 5 Kings and Princes must have sin charged upon them as well as others Page 342 Obs 6 Though they are to be reproved for sin some due respect ought to be given them Page 344 Obs 7 When God pleadeth against us let not neglect ibid VERS II. Obs 1 It is a dangerous thing to venture upon the beginnings of false worship Page 354 Obs 2 It is a dangerous thing to be deeply rooted in superstitious waies Page 355 Use This should teach us to deny our selves Page 357 Obs 3 The hearts of Apostates are most deeply rooted in wickednesse ibid Application to our times Page 358 Obs 4 Idolaters are profound and deep ibid Obs 5 Idolaters are deep in pollicy ibid Use Let us labor to be wise in the worship of God ibid Obs 6 The Ministers of God must rebuke sin Page 361 Obs 7 When Ministers rebuke in the way of God then God doth rebuke Page 362 Obs 8 Idolaters hearts are stubborn ibid Use Let not us be troubled at the stoutnesse of Idolaters Page 363 Obs 9 It is a greater evil to stand out against Gods displeasure than against his commands ibid Use Let us charge this sin upon our spirits Page 364 Obs 10 Prophets rebukes must be impartial rebukes Page 365 Obs 11 It is a hard thing for a few men to stand out against a State in matters of Religion ibid VERS III. Opened Page 366 Obs 1 Gods eye is upon the
house and from his labor that performeth not this promise It is a judgment to be shaken out of our labour but to be shaken out of such an office whereby we draw so nigh unto God as to be the mouth of God unto the people and the mouth of the people unto God again this is a sore evil Again whereas it may be said Israel had no true Priests therefore it was no judgment for them to be rejected out of that Office But to be cast out of what we seem to have that is likewise a judgment of God Luk. 8.18 Seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of God I will also forget thy children You have forgotten the Law You live so as you shew that you never think of the Law of the holiness equity and authority of it and the threats annexed unto it for if you remembred these you could not go on so quietly in a sinful way but you have cast off all the remembrance of the Law it is even worn out of your memory The book of the Law of God was lost for a long time in Judah surely in Israel much more I will forget Etiâ—m Ego even I. It is a sad thing to be forgotten by our friends when we are in misery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh that such a deer friend such a father or such a mother should forget me but how sad a thing is it for God to forget you Yea I will forget your children That is there shall be no succession in the Priestly office This was threatned against Eli his house 1 Sam. 2.20 It is a blessing for children of godly Ministers being godly to succeed them in the Office Observ and the contrary is a judgment Your children shall not succeed you in this Office but they shall be forgotten by me The families of wicked Ministers thorough Gods judgment are many times forgotten You have forgotten me Obser I wil forget you and your children I will not here speak how the child may suffer â—or the fathers offence we often meet with it Only now as it concerns the posterity of wicked Ministers they are thorough Gods judgment often forgotten But let not the families of Godly Ministers especially if their children be godly too Oh let not them be forgotten It is a judgment threatned upon these wicked Priests that God would forget their children therefore though men forget them it is not so evil but if there be any that have been faithful Ministers God forbid their children should be forgotten after they are dead This City hath been honored for their respect to godly Ministers but have you never forgotten their children their families that have been left behind When they were with you and preached among you you seemed to give mighty respect unto them but are there not many that belong unto their families now with you that live in a hard condition yea their children and families that are godly their widdows too how are they forgotten If the children of godly Ministers that are godly too should go unto God and complain thus would it not be a sad thing Lord thou threatnest Idolatrous Priests that forget thee that thou wouldest forget their children but Lord my father in the City was a faithful Minister he remembred thee and he was a faithful remembrancer for thy people yet we are forgotten is this according to thy Word shall the judgment that is threatned upon the children of Idolatrous Priests be the judgment upon us that are the children of faithful Ministers that we are thus forgotten though our fathers forgot not thee Look therefore into the families of godly Ministers look after their children for their fathers did not forget God do not you forget them let not the judgment that is threatned upon the children of wicked Ministers be upon them but let there be a distinction made between the children of faithful and godly Ministers and the children of Idolatrous Priests Verse 7. As they were encreased so they sinned against me therefore will I change their glory into shame THe Lord is here further charging these ten Tribes but especially their Priests he aimeth at them most in this his Charge They had before rejected the knowledg of the Lord and the Lord threatned rejection of them The knowledge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that knowledge Scientiam illam that knowledge of God in the way of his worship that he was to be worshiped at Jerusalem alone that truth was a suffering truth thereforâ— that truth they did reject they rejected others but especially that And in this seventh verse here is some ground of their rejection of the knowledg of God As they were encreased so they sinned against me God had encreased them they were grown first into a great multitude and as their number encreas'd so their sins encreas'd But especially that which I take to be the meaning of the holy Ghost here is As their prosperous condition encreas'd they were grown up to an height of prosperity and that was the thing made them sin against God and reject the knowledg of God The first is not to be rejected viz. As they encreased in multitude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Seventy turn it according to their fulness And it may be turned both waies fulness of number or fulness of their prosperous estate Obser It is a usual thing where there is encrease in number to be encrease in sin The more meat there is in the pot the more scum ariseth simile So in great Cities what a great deal of filth is there filth of sin moral filth Where there is any confluence of people at Fares and Merkets in the Country or in any Corporation what abundance of filth is there continually As there is any encrease in number usually there is encrease in sin In Churches though when they are but small at their first beginning a few called Saints they can agree wel together and go on sweetly in their way but ordinarily as they increase in number when Churches grow to any number they begin to corrupt and increase in sin They should encrease so much the more in godliness but this is the corruption of mans heart every one bringing in some corruption Therefore as there is an increase in number so in sin But because that is not the scope but the second to speak to that a little As they encreased in their prosperous estate For we are to know that at this time the ten Tribes were in a very prosperous condition they were grown rich and great and so they were increast and especially the Priests for they had the favour of Jeroboam and of the Princes For their main design was to uphold their false worship and the Priests served for their turns most therefore they countenanced those Priests of Dan and Bethel the Priests of the Calves and they flourished at this time in the Court and in the Countrey and were much increast in their prosperous estate And as
prosperous way of sinning Page 597 Obs 10 God hath his time to punish openly ibid Obs 11 God will have his time to convince men ibid Obs 12. Gods judgements are gradual ibid Obs 13. The more powerful the Ministry is the more sharp shall the judgment be if despised Page 598 VERS VI. Opened Page 600 Objections answered Page 601 Obs 1 Carnal hearts are verie cruel in their dealings Page 614 Obs 2 Carnal hearts think to satisfie their consciences by observing outward Ordinances ibid Obs 3 God and mens consciences will not be put off ibid Obs 4 The Lord hath an highesteem of mercy Page 615 Obs 5 It is a Christians skill when two duties come together which to chuse ibid Obs 6. If Gods Worship may be forborn in case of mercy how much more mens Institutions ibid Obs 7 God will have mercy rather than desputing about sacrifice Page 616 Obs 8 Mercy must be preferred before our own wils Page 617 Objections answered Page 619 Obs 9 The duties of the first and second Table are joyned together ibid Use Instruct your children and servants in this knowledge Page 620 Obs 10 Men may be very diligent in worship and yet very ignorant ibid Obs 11. Soul-worship must be preferred before all other ibid VERS VII Obs 1 It is Gods goodness that He enters into covenant with such poor creatures as we are Page 623 Obs 2. God is constant in His Covenant with men ibid Obs 3 Mans nature is very weak Page 624 Obs 4 The apprehension of our obligation should keep us within covenant ibid Obs 5 Breach of covenant is a grievous agravation of sin ib. Obs 6 God expects that of His people which every one cannot do Page 625 Obs 7 Men may do many services and yet be Covenant breakers ibid Obs 8. The sins of Saints which break Covenant are sins of a double dye ibid Obs 9. The want of the right knowledg of God is the cause of breach of Covenant ib. Obs 10 There can be no Covenant kept where there is no mercy Page 626 Obs 11. We should be humbled because we break Covenant with God ibid VERS VIII Obs 1 Through mans wickedness the best of Gods Ordinances ar corrupted Page 628 Obs 2 We must not judg of places as they have been heretofore ibid Obs 3 Places of Religion if corrupted are the worst of all others ibid Obs 4 It is abominable to be a worker of iniquity ibid Obs 5 Clergie men if wicked are the worst of all others ib. Obs 6 Wicked Clergie men overthrow whol Nations Page 629 Obs 7 False worship and tyranny are joyned together ibid Obs 8 None so cruel as Clergie men ibid VERS IX Obs 1 Wicked Ministers are most outragious against those that leave them Page 630 Obs 2 Wicked Ministers wait to do mischief ibid Obs 3 Many men are neerest undoing when most secure ibid Obs 4 Wicked men abuse the esteem others have of them ib. Obs 5 Judges are least called to an accompt for wrongs ib. Obs 6. None plot mischief so much as Clergie men Page 631 Obs 7 Plotted wickedness is most vile ibid VERS X. Obs 1 Idolatry is a horrible sin Page 632 VERS XI Obs 1 The sins of the people are seeds for a harvest of judgment Page 635 Obs 2 God hath a set time for judgment ibid Obs 3 In judgment the Lord remembers mercy for his people ibid CHAP. VII VERS I. Obs 1 In great Cities there is all manner of evils Page 637 Obs 2 The sins of a Kingdom are the sores of a Kingdom Page 638 Obs 3 The Lord is the healer of a Kingdom Page 639 Obs 4 God doth not will things according to his omnipotency Page 640 Obs 5 Much wickedness lies hid many times in a Kingdom Page 641 Englands wickedness 1 Bitterness against the power of godliness Page 641 2 A sordid spirit Page 642 3 A trtacherous spirit ibid 4 A blasphemous spirit ib. 5 A bloody spirit ib. 6 A spirit of division ib. 7 An oppressing spirit Page 643 8 A spirit of envy ib. 9 A spirit of superstition ib. 10 A wanton spirit ib. 11 An unmerciful spirit ib. Obs 6 It is a forerunner of mischief when people are false in their relations Page 647 Obs 7 There is much secret wickedness in men of false Religions ib. VERS II. Obs 1 It is a good thing to be often speaking with ones own heart Page 648 Obs 2 God remembers wickedness a long time Page 649 Obs 3 Wicked men consider not that God remembers their wickedness ib. Obs 4 When God punisheth sin be manifesteth that he remembers it Page 650 VERS III. Obs 1 Wicked people are easily led aside by their Governors Page 655 Obs 2. Governors ought not to be obeyed when their comands are unlawful ibid Obs 3 It is a vile wickedness to flatter Princes Page 653 Obs 4 It is a vile thing to be made glad with wickedness Page 654 Obs 5 That King is in a sad condition when his ends must be accomplished by wickedness ibid Obs 6 Idolatry is a lye in Gods account Page 656 Obs 7 Idolaters further their worship with lyes ibid Obs 8 It is an evil thing to make men glad with lyes Page 657 VERS IV. Opened and applied Page 658 VERS V Obs 1 Festival daies are usually distempering daies Page 662 Obs 2 Drunkennesse is an old Court sin Page 663 Obs 3 Drunkennesse breeds diseases ibid Obs 4 Sensual Courtiers are for the most part great scorners Page 666 Obs 5 Times of feasting are times of contemning Religion ibid Obs 6 The right way of worship is slighted by carnal hearts ib. Obs 7 When Kings hearts are against Relegion they shall never want pestilent wits to further their designs Page 667 VERS VI. Obs 1 God will be hot in judgment as men are hot in sin Page 668 VERS VII Obs When Governors set up false worship it should quicken our prayers Page 670 VERS VIII Opened Page 673 VERS IX Obs 1 The hearts of wicked men work strongly after their lusts VERS X. Obs 1 God expects we should turn upon afflictions Page 679 Obs 2 Afflictions if not sanctified never turn the heart ib. Obs 3 Not to turn in Affliction is a great aggravation of sin ibid VERS XI Obs 1 Men are not excused though seduced by others Page 680 VERS XII Obs 1 It is just that those which go out of Gods way should be ensnared Page 682 Obs 2 God may for a time let wicked men prosper in their waies Page 685 Obs 3 Sinners had need regard what they hear out of Gods Word Page 684 Obs 4. When judgements come upon impenitent sinners 't is an humbling consideration ib. VERS XIII Obs 1 Gods redeeming mercies are great aggravations of our sins Page 687 Obs 2 Such as sin freely after deliverance give God the ly ib. Obs 3 For a man to urge another to a false opinion is a lying against God ibid Obs 4. The great evil of sin is that
follow us on with mercies and all the good that we can wish for one after another God makes wicked men to know more wrath and the drops of his anger here are but the begining of the deluge of miseries which are their portion they sink and sink and their sinking must be to all eternity Oh the difference which there is between Gods dealing with the Saints and with the wicked Though the Saints may be under a cloud for the present yet they shall know the Lord the Sun will appear again the Lord will follow on his work though we neglect ours and glorious shall the issue of things be in the conclusion were it not a glorious thing if a man had lived from the beginning to this day and might live to the end of the world to see what God did in former times what God doth now and what he will do to the end of the world for his poor Churches The Saints shall live to all eternity to see these glorious things God did glorious things in the first six thousand yeers and surely the next six thousand yeers shall be most glorious but in eternity God will do most of all Eternity then the Saints of God those which follow on to know the Lord shall be put into the real possession of all those glorious things which God hath been a doing from all eternitie I come to the next words His going forth is prepared as the morning Hierom Hierom. conceived these words to be meant of Christ he shall come as the morning being cald the Son of righteousness in loc the morning-star and he conceives that it may have reference to the title of the 22. Psal A Psalm of David to the chief Musicion upon Aijeleth Shahar that is the morning hind to wit Christ who was sent forth as the morning hind◠and hunted in his infancy and in his life as the hinde is pursued by the hounds Expos If we take the words as they lie before us they are an expression of Israels confidence in God after a night of trouble the word prepared signifies also decreed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is decreed upon as the morning and the evening and as the day follows the night by a decree Children when they see the Sun a going down will many times cry because they think the Sun will never rise again but if a man should do so you would think him very simple Even thus it is with us 't is no wonder to see wicked men in their straits crying out we are undone this darkness will never be over yet such is the baseness of our unbeleeving hearts who think when the clouds of sorrow begin to arise and blackness begins to cover the sun of our prosperity mercy will never break through that we are undone past remedy and there is no help for us light will no more appear But more particularly observe That the times of the afflictions of Gods people are night-times This is implyed here we may have a long time of sorrow and misery a dark tempest may overtake us yet know that a morning will come They are called night-times for three reasons Because of the uncomfortableness of those times Darkness is very terrible Drexelius tels us of a young man who being very fearful of darkness God striking him with a dangerous sicknesse in so much that he could not sleep tumbling up and down in his bed he uttered these words If this darkness be so terrible what is eternal darkness and this proved the means of his conversion Wel therefore may affliction-times be called night-times times of darknesse Obs 1 These are times that often take off men from service from publick and private service The night is the time in which the brute creatures which in the day time keep close then come forth for their prey Therefore the Apostles exhortation is seasonable Let us work while it is called to day before the night comes when no man can work Night times are times of danger Many of our brethren can speak this truth in these times When is the time that wicked men prey upon the Saints and the wild beasts go out to devour but in the dark So when do men meditate upon terror and create fears to themselves but in the night of their afflictions and sorrows The time of Gods delivering his people is the morning the Obs 2 morning after the sad and dark night As light is comfortable in the morning after a sad dark and stormy night so is deliverance after trouble The morning is very desirable as appears Psal 130.6 Ps 130.6 My soul waiteth for the Lord in the morning watch Gods mercies after afflictions are very sweet as the light approaching in the morning is to the laboring-man going to his work When God hath work for men to do he expects that they should go forth to it and shew themselves in it as the Sun when it riseth begins to shew it self in its brightness and glory Use so ought every Christian to shine in the work and service of God after deliverance In a sickness or when some straight is upon thee thou art hindred in Gods service and in thy work well then when God shows thee and bestows upon thee the morning of a deliverance go forth and manifest thy working for God be not ashamed of his Cause under the shine of such a mercy The Church hath no such afflictions upon it but there comes a Obs 3 morning after them the morning wil come either to Churches in special or persons in particular and we hope this time is a coming unto us therefore let dominion be given unto the Lord in the morning yea and let dominion be given to the righteous in the morning and this seems to be the meaning of that place Revel 2.28 Rev. 2.28 To him that overcomes will I give the morning-star there may be great contentions opened grievous miseries in this night of afflictions but be encouraged To him that overcomes wil I give this morning-star of comfort and deliverance It is God presence which makes morning to the Saints all natural Obs 4 helps cannot do it as all the stars cannot make one day light some light they may give but not day light but when the Sun arises there is day presently so God may make some comfort to a arise to soul by secondarie and inferior means but 't is Himself alone by the shining of his face and the smiles of his countenance which causes morning Obs 5 Gods mercies to his people are prepared and decreed mercies They are set and determined thy going forth is prepared as the morning the word I shewed you in the Original signifies decreed Jer. 33.20 Thus saith the Lord If you can break my Covenant of the day and my Covenant of the night then also may my Covenant with David be broken Here we have both the text and the note from it the Covenant of Gods
decree with day and night morning and evening cald a Covenant because it is sure and certain so also is the Covenant which God hath made to Christ and to his Church firm and sure and this is a ground of strong consolation to the Saints to consider that mercies which they want are set and decreed mercies therefore with patience wait for them Obs 6 The Saints in the night of their affliction can comfort themselves in this That the morning is a coming It is night yet but the morning will come 't is approaching the assurance the morning is coming upholds the Saints spirits in the night of their sorrows the Marrener in tempestuous storms in the dark night the traveller in his wearisom and dirty journy comforts themselves with this the morning light is a coming 't is far better to be in darkness and know the morning light is a coming than to be in the light and to know or fear that darknesse is a coming and light never to returne more Obs 7 A little before the Saints deliverance out of their greatest disturbances of miserie and trouble the darkness of their night is the greatest As a little before the dawning of the day the darkness is the thickest and the most terrible thus it was in Egypt a little before Israels deliverance and their return out of captivity and this should mightily encourage us not to be disheartned in these times though our miseries should encrease for the darker the cloud is and the bigger it grows the neerer it is to its period therefore wait with patience Obs 8 Gods delivering of his Church is gradual by degrees not all at once as the day breaks by degrees so the Saints shine gradually in their lives answerable to the light which God hath let into them We would have deliverance at an instant light and perfect noontime presently but this is not Gods way of dealing with his people a child does not know that it is day till it be very light indeed simile but wise discerning men can see day at a little hole as we use to say Oh that we were so wise to discern Gods dealings in the workings of providence towards us It follows His going forth is prepared as the morning Text And he shall come unto us as the rain God glories much in this creature of Rain Rain in so much that he wonders when men do not fear him who is the giver of rain They did not say in their hearts let us fear God who gives rain there is so much of my glory in this very one creature that mens hearts must be very hard that will not give God glory for it Jer. 5.24 God is stiled the Father of rain this speech the mention of it here hath reference to that country in which the Prophet spake to Canaan where they had rain not so frequently as we have but twice a yeer especially viz. at seed time to soften the ground and a little before harvest to plump and fill up the Corn in the ear The Apostle James seems to allude unto this Jam. 5.7 Jam. 5.7 illustrated The husbandman waiteth patiently for the fruits of the earth so should we for Gods time of delivering his people Gods deliverances to his people shall be as seasonable as the former and the latter rain The Notes of observation from these words are Look what the rain is to the Corn so is Gods blessing to his people Obs 1 We have the same dependance upon God for blessing mercy that the seed hath upon the rain for growing and encrease without the rain the Corn will be but as the parched ground in the wilderness which is the curse and brand upon wicked men Jer. 17.5 6. hence we may see what poor creatures we are having our dependance upon such a poor creature as the rain is in its self and by the dependance which we have on this creature we should learn to consider what dependance we have upon the infinite God for all the good things which we enjoy Obs 2 As the Church is parched and dried up without the rain of Gods blessing so on the other side all the earth and flowers in the field are refreshed and a beauty there is put on them by the rain that coms from the Heavens it makes them to encrease And as the earth is not unthankful for the rain Use but sends forth Corn Grass and Flowers so should we alwaies after the receiving of mercies return unto God in duties we would think it strange if the earth after all the cost man hath bestowed upon it and after the sweet and seasonable showers of rain it should be barren and fruitless Oh man condemn thy self the word is compared to rain and how many times hath the sweet showers and droppings of the word lighted upon thee and yet thou barren all cost hitherto being lost upon thee Deut. 32.2 Obs 3 Gods mercies to his people are both seasonable and sutable this promised in the text They should come as the latter and former rain The Lord comes to wicked men in a general way of providence but to the Saints as rain in seed-time and harvest with much fulness how should this teach us our duty to wait with patience upon God with the husbandman Jam. 5.7 for the appointed weeks of harvest so should we till mercies come seasonably if mercies should alwaies come when we would have them they would prove judgments to us that which in its self is a mercy coming untimely proves an affliction God sent his people Israel Israel a King but he proved a heavy judgment to them simile if a woman should be delivered upon every pain and throwing she feels what mishapen birth would she have It is Gods mercy unto you to prolong your births till the full time we cry out Oh our troubles are great and continue long we had thought to have seen a period to these times our wars at an end and peace setled in our Kingdom Oh know that if they had ended sooner when we would have them what a plague would it have been to us Saints experience in this how many that observe Gods dealings can say that if such a mercy had come when they desired it they had been undone by it it had ruined them therefore Gods time is the best time hence we find that the Saints have often blessed God when he hath crossed them in their desires and hath denied them the thing which they so importunatly desired The Lord hath sent us the former rain at the begining of the summer in its season to prepare the earth for fruit but now there are scorching heats in the Kingdom heats of displeasure in the Country in the City nay almost in every family Now let us with patience wait and the latter rain in its season will assuredly come Is God so seasonable in his mercies for us Let us be seasonable and sutable in our
after he had killed Nabal and telleth him of his sin he fals down and humbleth himself in so much that God himself takes notice of it and upon it pronounceth a transmission of his punishment That he would not bring the evil in his daies but in his sons God bids the Prophet see how he humbled himself that not in a show as if his heart were not touched and affected he did truly humble himself in his kind but now was there no reformation followed upon this No none at all great men not easily reformed Theodos 'T is very hard to bring great men to reforming where have we such an example since Theodosius the Emperor who being a man guilty of rash effusion of blood coming upon a Sabbath day to the place of publick worship and would have received the Sacrament Ambrose Ambrose seeing him a coming goes and meets him at the door and speaks thus to him How dare those bloody hands of yours lay hold of the body and blood of Christ who have been the sheders of so much innocent blood Which speech did so startle him that he went away and was humbled for his sin and afterwards came and made his publick confession and then was received in Whence we may see that Kings An Emperor may be kept back froÌ„ the Sacrament yea Emperors have been kept back from the Sacrament But did this humiliation of Ahab come to nothing If we look but into the 22. chap. we shall find him of a proud hauty spirit resolved upon his own will contrary to the will of God he would go up to Ramâ—th Gilead and when Jehoshaphat asked him if there were not a Prophet of the Lord more that they might enquire of him and he said there is one but I hate him and this was in the time of his humiliation And is it not thus with us Applica many times when judgments are upon us how penitent are we and then humbled presently but if the rod be off us we grow proud and stout again presently So in Judah what beginnings did that young King Joash Joash make in the 2 Chron. 24.6 what care was there taken in reparing the Temple gave commandement to the Priests and the Levites to gather mony for the building the House of the Lord and commanded it to be done spedily he was a very young Prince but very zealous in so much that he blamed the high Priest for his want of zeal and verse 10. 't is said the Princes and all the people rejoyced and brought in and cast into the chest now what did this produce surely some glorious effect mark in the 17. verse After the death of Jehojadah came the Princes of Judah and made obeisance to him and what then the King hearkened to them they then began to get him on their side by complying with him for the text saith that he hearkened to them and then wrath came upon them 't is very likely they said after this manner to him Consider who you are a Prince the head of a people and you do all that the old man Jehojada commanded he was a subject to you and you be commanded by him The Princes discourse to Joash and besides he is now dead and gone therefore shew your self a man like a Prince in your Kingdom stand upon your own legs be like unto the rest of the Princes about you Now such words as these might please the King and be hearkened to and then they presently forsook the House of the Lord God of their fathers and served groves and Idols they forsook their Religion while they kept the truth it preserved them and they followed the rule but turning from the rule what outrages do they commit verse 21 22. conspire against Zaccariah and stoned him the blood of a Prophets son is now nothing to them they can down with it and the King stood and saw him stoned Oh what a height of sin is this young zealous Prince come unto How many sad examples have we in these our daies which second this of Joash Young ones of our times how many young ones are there who in their youth give very good hopes but it proves to be but a morning cloud their timely beginnings end in apostacy Another example we have in Amaziah in the 2 Chron. 25.2 Amaziah Amaziah in the 6. verse had hired an hundred thousand of Israel to go to the war with him and for their hire he had given them an hundred talants of silver now after he had hired them and paid them all their monies there comes a Prophet of God tels him that he must not use a man of them why saith he what shall I do for my mony the hundred talents which I have paid the Army with the man of God answered the Lord is able to give thee much more than these he had no security for it but only Gâ—â—s word for it and that from the mouth of a man what now Amaziah obeyed presently and separated the armies of Israel But what became of this Vers 14. after he returned from the slaughter of the Edomites he brought the gods of the children of Seir and set them up to be his gods and bowed down to them and the 15. verse God sends him another Prophet and now see how the spirit of the man is changed In the former verses the other Prophet coms to him and crosses his design and turns his mind he hearkens presently unto him and obeys the command of God in that thing which was for his present and eminent losse but this Prophet speaks as mildly with as much love as possibly could be and he speaks as much reason to him as a man can desire Why hast thou relied and sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people out of thy hand they could not rescue or save their people from thee and wilt thou serve them yet in the 16. vers mark what he saith Medle not with this matter Art thou made of the Kings Councel forbear why shouldest thou be smitten Dost thou know what a plot and design there is in this thing The Prophet forbears but what follows I know by this the Lord hath determined to destroy thee Because thou hast done this Wilfulness after enlightening a note of dâ—structioÌ„ and hast not hearkened to my counsel The truth is when we see men unruly stubborn and wilful rejecting counsel and very unreasonable in their way especially after some good workings and stirrings it is a fearful sign God hath a purpose to destroy them So that wicked King at one time could call the prophet his father yet how was he afterward inraged against him Some may be friends to the Saints at one time and bitter enemies to them at another And as the Scripture is full of such examples as these so also are Ecclesiastical histories 'T is storied of Domitian DomitiaÌ„ a most
who have good intentions good purposes aims and desires and yet have some secret warping which they know not of simile which may make them miscarry to all eternity A man may with a deceitful bow aim at a beast and yet kill a man so many may think they strike at sin and yet with that very goad may at the same time wound the Saints It follows Their Princes shall fall by the sword These were they who had the chief hand in the setting up of false worship and in oppressing those that would not joyn with them now God would reach these great ones In times of battel Princes stand by secured at a distance they have their Life guards they put on others and think to be safe themselves they will bring others into straights and miseries and care not though thousands of them be slain at a fight they shall do well enough but saith God they shall not so escape in battel Their Princes shall fall by the sword it shall not distinguish them from others For the rage of their tongue They raged against God his People and Ordinances and thought themselves too big to be contradicted we may note here Obs That when men grow very wicked they grow outragious like mad men there is no ruling of them there is such a world of wickedness in them they take a liberty to say what they please we find many strong expressions about the tongue in Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the 70. render the words As Job 5.21 it is called a scourge therefore the Saints are promised to be delivered from it 2. Psal 57.4 it is cal'd a sharp sword Prov. 12.18 there is that speaketh like the piercing of a sword Prov. 25.18 a man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Epethites of the tongue is a Mole and a Sword and a sharp Arrow 3. It is compared to fire yea unto the fire of hell James 3.7 8. To the coals of Juniper Psal 120.4 which are quickly kindled but abide long all these expressions with others we find about the tongue of the wicked But now see what is said of the tongues of the Saints Cant. 4.11 Thy lips Oh my Spouse drop as the hony comb hony and milk are under thy tongue And Prov. 10.20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver The heart of the wicked is little worth 4. An outragious tongue is such a poyson as poysons it self which no other poyson doth other poysons hurt no further than they are applied they cannot poyson at a distance but this is such a strange working thing that it will both hurt and so destroy men that they shall never recover themselves and this it wil do at a distance and come not neer these men have such dispositions that they will let none pass without a lash of their tongue Now the Lord he will not let these go in this manner he will scorn the scorners when these men are in their rage none are spared Magistrates Misiers Parents Ordinances no nor God Himself But Christ will convince them of their hard words Consider how in your families or in some companies you have been guilty of the rage of the tongue in these kinds It follows in the last words This shall be their derision in the Land of Egypt When they come to Egypt they think to find them their friends that they will help them and stick unto them no saith God instead of helping them they shall scorn them One part of the rage of their tongue was in speaking basely of the worship of God and of his people and now the Egyptians shal speak basely to them Why do you come to us for help where is your God become that you so boasted of Therefore just is it with God that those which forsake him and his help and go to men for succor that they by them should be made a scorn O it is a most grievous judgment for Gods people to be made a scorn by such the Egyptians And it should be our care and duty not to put our brethren into such straights that the poor Saints of God should be forced to go to the wicked for help least they should reproach them saying Why do you come to us What cannot your holy brethren releeve you do you expect help from us But in special this is their derision in the land of Egypt the rage of their tongue their fallings out one with another they could not agree but wrangled and jangled among themselves when the Egyptians shall see this they shall deride them and look upon them as the greatest objects of scorn that possibly can be The Lord deliver us from this judgment when was there such divisions amongst us as at this day Oh the rage of the tongue which abounds in every place the Devil himself hath a chief stroke in this rage and he laughs to see it prosper and encrease as well as our adversaries who laugh in their sleeves at us both and what should move us more to agree one with another than this The consideration of that woful scorn and derision we should be to them if God should deliver us up into their hands Now as this their rage was a symtom to them of their ruin so the Lord grant that we Prophet in time of destress Page 87 All All pretend to seek God Page 408 Ambition The ambition of Priests Page 103 Anathema Maranatha Anathema Maranatha what it means Page 903 Apes An Apes tooth worshiped for a god Page 200 Apostates The hearts of Apostates are rooted in wickednesse Page 357 Apostates seldom turn Page 384 Apostacy What the beginning of Apostacy is Page 425 Art What the art of Preaching is and wherein it consists Page 440 Avenged God will be avenged for breach of trust Page 29 Agravation Agravation of Englands wickedness Page 642 Application Application to the Parliament Page 580 Application to England in general ibid Application to private men ib. Assemblies Church assemblies are not alwaies safe Page 608 Arguments Arguments that mercy is coming Page 547 Arguments of a carnal heart Page 550 B Baseness The baseness of people discribed and whereon it consists Page 367 Beasts When the beasts are taken away our comforts are gone Page 65 Beda Beda his opinion of Austin the Monk Page 395 Best Best men not to be depended on Page 485 Beware Men ought to beware of secret sins Page 483 Blood Blood requires blood Page 48 Bribery Bribery in Magistrates is a curse of God upon a Nation Page 221 Beginnings It is grievous to God for men to let fall good beginnings and the reasons why Page 582 see Dangerous Body God is careful of the body Page 607 bound God is not bound to do for man Page 571 C Carnal men Carnal men shall be ashamed and why Page 331 Carnalists Carnalists portion is outward Page 434 Christ see Humble Christ see Duty Children Wicked children are a dishonor to their parents Page
Terror Hypocrisie Hypocrisie in Reformation is dangerous Page 581 Honor Places of honor are great snares Page 670 How we should honor God Page 695 Howling see Prayer I Idolaters Idolaters seldom come in and return Page 125 What poor waies of worship Idolaters have Page 136 If parents be Idolaters their children are usually so too Page 161 It is dangerous living near Idolaters and why Page 172 Idolaters are proud men Page 391 Idolaters despise Gods worship Page 391 Idolatry The Idolatry of the Papists Page 133 The neerer Idolatry comes to the Worship of God the more dangerous it is Page 174 Court idolatry is most dangerous Page 633 See Contempt Idols Idols are bewitching things Page 199 Ignorance The cause of ignorance Page 35 Ignorance is the deformity of the soul Page 90 Ignorance is dangerous and how Page 91 Ignorance and pride are companions Page 390 Incest Incest an hainous sin Page 61 Influence There is a great influence between the Priests and the People Page 100 Impetuousness Impetuousness of spirit is to be suspected Page 136 Institutions Institutions are to be minded in point of worship Page 128 Inclinations Strong inclinations bind the mind Page 388 Justice Justice must be executed impartially Page 50 Justice must not struck dumb with the appearance of angels Page 222 Judgment It is a great judgment for men to be unserviceable in times of service Page 565 How judgment convinceth Page 597 See Leave and Ministry Irreligion Irreligion and slavery are companions Page 654 K Kings Kings were accounted of as the Popes dogs Page 177 Godly Kings observed not their birth-daies Page 661 See Respect Knowledge Want of knowledg of God makes men cruel Page 32 Keep How to keep God with us Page 510 Know see Saints Knowledge see Opportunity Kingdom see Officers L Lady The folly of a Lady in Paris Page 151 Land How a Land may be said to mourn Page 62 Living-God Living-God what it implies Page 189 Lying Lying and swearing go together Page 44 Leave It is a sad judgment for God to leave men Page 509 God never leaves his Page 510 Live see Resurrection M Magistrates see Bribery Man slaughter Man-slaughter is but a vain distinction from murder Page 48 Men see Merciless Merciless A merciful God sets him against merciless men Page 29 Ministers Ministers must plead for God Page 3 How faithful Ministers shall be dealt withal Page 77 Striving against faithful Ministers is a great hastning of judgment Page 81 Ill Ministers are besotted Page 88 Ministers must rebuke sin Page 361 The duty of Ministers Page 438 It is a comfort to Ministers to die preaching Page 590 Ministers are hewers Page 593 Ministers work is difficult Page 594 See Truths Superstition Whoremongers Duty Mind see Inclinations Mixture How the mixture of wicked and godly men is hurtful Page 372 How the mixture of wicked and godly men is to be distinguished Page 373 Murder Murder is not to be pardoned Page 48 Man-slaughter see England Men see Causes Means Means to persevere Page 585 Mercies How to use mercies well Page 545 Mercies are forfeited by unbeleef before they be received ibid One mercy makes way for another Page 558 Gods mercies are seasonable Page 564 In what cases God will have mercy and not sacrifice Page 601 Means All means must be used before correction Page 569 Ministry The sharper the Ministry is the sharper shall the judgment be if it be neglected Page 598 Morning Gods discovery is in the morning Page 560 See Presence Murder see England N Nation A defiled Nation is neer ruin Page 374 While a Nation is purging there is hope Page 375 How it may be known what shall become of a Nation Page 428 Natural What a Natural man may do towards conversion Page 377 What natural duties are Page 601 Nature The more excellent the Nature is the more communicative it is Page 573 Neighbors Ill neighbors are an ill thing Page 445 Night Night times are times of danger Page 560 Note A note of a good heart Page 565 O Oath What an Oath implies Page 189 Obedience Willing Obedience to sin brings guilt upon a Nation Page 473 Obedience see Command Officers The Officers of the Kingdom seek their own interest Page 639 Opportunity No Opportunity to get knowledg must be neglected Page 609 P Passion Passion makes a man a beast Page 48 Papists The doctrine of the Papists is opposite to the Scripture Page 81 Papists see Idolatry Patience The patience of God described Page 368 We must be patient in prayer Page 541 People The people of God suffer with others if they sin with others Page 401 People must return to God Page 530 When any people may apply the promise Page 537 Persons How particular persons are defiled by the wicked Page 373 See Mixture Plague A strange plague in London Page 67 Pleading The more imediate Gods pleading with men is the more dreadful it is Page 4 Preaching Preaching is the way to remove superstition Page 146 Priest It is the work of the Priest to strive against the people for sin Page 75 When priests strive against the people they must lock to be striven with Page 76 Priests see Covetousness Ambition Influence Prelates see Experience Presence The consideration of Gods presence humbles the heart Page 368 Gods presence makes morning to the Saints Page 562 Pride Pride discovers much sin within Page 394 Pride goes from God and against God Page 397 The pride of mens spirits Page 514 See Ignorance Conscience Private see Hope Princes Princes have been preachers Page 146 How Princes and Priests delude the people about Gods worship Page 348 Princes see Subjects Prophet see Affliction Prosperity Prosperity abused shall be punished Page 100 See Wicked Profession see Formal Proud God will cast proud men down Page 397 Proud men fall low ibid Publick see Hope Punish When men will not punish sin God will Page 61 Punishment They that are alike in sin shall be alike in punishment Page 116 Pains We must not think much to lose our pains Page 569 Parents see Christ Prayers When prayers are howlings Page 688 Penitent Penitent hearts retain good thoughts of God in affliction Page 532 Penitent hearts are not discouraged in afflictions Page 534 Perversness Perversness of spirit in those that are nigh to God is very grievous to God Page 572 Persevere see Means Place Where Gods place is Page 511 Preaching It is an ill sign when men are the worse for preaching Page 644 Presumption What presumption is Page 536 Propriety The propriety of Beleevers Page 547 Prop see Faith Prophets see False R Rebukes The rebukes of a brother are loving rebukes Page 73 Gods rebukes are furious ibid See God Real Gods threatnings are real Page 452 Religion see Staff Reprobation What Reprobation is Page 210 Repentance What true Repentance is Page 385 Faith and Repentance mutually act on another Page 549 The trial of Repentance Page 696 Respect Due respect is to be given to Kings
Page 345 Riches How riches are fatal to Church-men Page 100 Rule The rule of our actions must be known and why Page 341 Rulers Rulers and Governors should be men of good mettle Page 229 Romans see Education Resurrection We live in Christs Resurrection Page 543 Relations What relation God stands in to the Saints Page 547 Revealing We must take notice of Gods revealing himself to us Page 557 Reformation see Hypocrisie Religion see Unconstancy S Saints see Good works Sacrifices The sacrifices of the wicked are slaughters Page 3â—â— What sacrifices should be rendred up to God Page 332 Satan Satans way to get in false worship Page 469 See Temptation Admonition Sensual see Ministers Sensuality Sensuality is a besotting sin Page 129 Self-love Self-love is sinful Page 409 Sermons Sermons must be preached to the life Page 439 How to know when a Sermon works really Page 440 Ministers in their Sermons must denounce war if peace be slighted Page 441 Secret sins see Beware Services Former services are not to be presumed on Page 402 Shame Causes of shame what they are Page 326 Sin Sin causeth a controversie between God and man Page 4 Sin not mortified will break out again Page 59 God punisheth sin with sin Page 152 Sin after rebuke is very sinful Page 363 Sin acts more on the will than on the power Page 376 Sin see Controversie Stealing What stealing is Page 52 Strife Strife against God is dreadful Page 7 Strive see priest Striving Striving against God is vain Page 6 Scornfulness Scornfulness reproved Page 19 Scripture see Papists Society The Society of the Saints is to be improved Page 196 State A State is hard to be stood out against in matter of Religion Page 365 State see Failing Subjects Subjects suffer for Princes sins Page 490 Superstition Curiosity to see Superstition is dangerous Page 187 See Preaching Command Superstitious How Superstitious men look upon Gods Ordinances Page 325 Superstitious people must be heeded when they come with greatest shew of reason Page 358 Superstitious people are abundant in services Page 406 Superstitious people spare no cost in their services Page 407 See Admonition Stubborn Stubborn people have base spirits Page 194 Swearing Whence swearing proceeds Page 41 The evil of swearing Page 42 Swearing in its self is lawful Page 189 See Lying Salutation The ancient form of the Saints salutation Page 549 Saints What the Saints shall know Page 553 See Experience Sacrifice see Mercy Scornful Evil men are scornful Page 665 Seasonableness Seasonableness commends duty Page 565 Service see Judgment Sin Sin disturbs Heaven and Earth Page 511 Slanders The evils of slanders Page 659 Sluggish A Sluggish spirit in the men of our times Page 556 Soul see Form Suffer see Help Steward see Vertue Superstition see England Spirit God hath sent choice spirits to London Page 590 T Take heeed How men ought to take heed to the Lord Page 126 Ten Tribes Why the ten Tribes had never a good King Page 469 Temptation Satans Temptations are an aggravation to sin Page 386 Terrified see Dying Thought Our Thoughts must be accounted for Page 120 Toys Men contend about toys Page 23 Threatnings see Real Treachery Treachery against God is dangerous Page 419 Treachery is the greatest sin Page 420 Trust see Avenged Truth Suffering truths go hardly down with Ministers Page 94 A hint of Truth prevails much with a subdued heart Page 389 See Hard Terror Terror to Hypocrites Page 551 Thoughts see Penitent Tryal see Repentance Turning Joint turning to God is very honorable Page 531 U Understanding What evil want of understanding doth Page 167 Ugly The ugly face of sin Page 63 Unfaithfulness Unfaithfulness provokes God to cast men off Page 96 Universities Univers ties corrupted Page 628 Why Universities are corrupted Page 116 Unlawful We can never expect unlawful undertakings to prosper Page 124 Vertues Vertues requisite in a steward Page 609 Unbeleef Lay up for time to come against unbeleef Page 546 Unconstancy Unconstancy in Religion provokes God Page 592 Unworthiness Faith sees worthiness in our unworthiness W Way When God is in a way of wrath he can reach the most remote creatures Page 68 Wicked The different spirits of wicked men in prosperity and adversity Page 64 Many wicked Parents are loth their children ' should be wicked Page 156 Wicked men shall need God Page 407 See Children Dogs Wickedness Thoughtful wickedness is the worst wickedness Page 120 God remembers wickedness a long time Page 649 It is a wickedness to flatter Princes Page 653 It is a wickedness to obey unlawful commands Page 653 See Apostates Whoremongers Whoremongers and plausible Ministers are alike Page 124 Works see Good Wine How Wine takes away the heart Page 130 Worship In point of Gods Worship we must not do as others do Page 177 By whom the Worship of God is disesteemed Page 325 See Institution Will Will-worship is abominable to God Page 360 The more will to sin the greater is the sin Page 472 Willing see Obedience Wrath No creature can help in time of Gods wrath Page 68 Wicked men Wicked men are led aside by their Governors Page 653 Wicked men are of no use Page 690 Wilfulness Wilfulness after enlightning is a note of destruction Page 579 Worthiness see Unworthiness Word How the Word slaies Page 590 The Word slaies either the sin or the soul Page 596 Worship see False Y Young Young Converts and weak Christians are soon deceived Page 409 Young ones Young ones are the hope of a Nation Page 429 Young ones must not be corrupted Page 430 Young ones are subject to m scarry Page 578 FINIS