whole glory i. e. the whole Church 2 Cor. 8.23 shall be a defence therefore be comforted that the counsel of God the Priesthood of Christ and the Covenant of peace are unchangeable and abide for ever which is the sure foundation of every true Christians confidence and comfort Be not slothful in proving your knowledge of faith in love towards walking after and suffering for Christ For the visible and seeming differences are little and smal between the right Christian and the Hypocrite therein But in the Anointing Spirit Vertue Power and Life within which like the oyl in the Lamp feeds the wick of profession I beseech you also in the Lord Heb. 6.2 2 Jo. v. 9. Pro. 4.2 1 Tim. 4.6 1 Tim. 1.10 Tit. 1.9 and 2.1 as dear Brethren that you be not moved from the Doctrin which was delivered to you which is the same with the Doctrine of the Apostles called the Doctrine of Christ good Doctrine and sound Doctrine In opposition to these are the Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 Mar. 7.7 Col. 2.21 Heb. 13.9 1 Jo. v. 10. Rev. 2.14 15 24. and the Doctrines of men which either directly deny Christ or much derogate from him who is the perfect Law-giver And that Satan and his Instruments may the better introduce their own Doctrines they make it their design and indeavour to batter down the Scriptures for their Dagon cannot stand before Gods Ark. As the Jewes make it death for any of their Religion to read and keep the New-Testament The Papists also make it an Article of their Creed that unwritten verities as they call them and the Canons and Traditions of their Church are of equal authority with the Scriptures hold that they should not be translated into vulgar Languages nor the Common-people be permited to read them †Contrary to Dut. 6.6 to the 10. Josh 1.8 Ps 119.19 16 105. Joh. 5.39 Act. 17.11 and 18.24 Ro. 15.4 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Col. 3.16.17 Rev. 13. 22.10 Also the Quakers generally deny the Scripture to be the Word of God * which are so called See and compare Mat. 15.6 with Mar. 7.13 Lu. 8-11 with Mat. 13. 37 Ro. 10.8 with Deu. 30 14 See also Jo 10.35 Act. 4.31 12.49 13.44 46. 19 20 Eph. 6.17 1 Tim. 4.5 H.S. in his book called the Everl Rule pa. 28. or a Rule affirming there is no other Rule Way or Means c. but that which is manifest in men And one of the learned'st of them disdainfully calls the Scriptures broken Cisterns your Scripture your Word your Letter †S.F. In his book cal'd Rust ad Acad pa. 115.116 117. These 3 last instances I divers others heard from the Parties owne mouths and some upon that account call it the great Idol others affirm the writings of their Teachers to be of equal inspiration and Authority with it and that which is yet worse one woman put her Bible under her foot another Burnt it and yet these two were great Quakers but now are turned Singers a degree as they concieve above them But beloved you are better taught I hope will still retain your love of diligence and delight in and zeal for this word of God And especially to walk more according to it then those that pretend to experience alike power with a greater mesure of perfection than either the Prophets or Apostles ever did I am fearful and jealous that this attempt of taking away the authority of the Scriptures will end in takeing away the very Bibles from us Therefore I exhort you again in the words of Christ and Paul Search the Scriptures and give attendance to Reading be stedfast in those truths which you have been taught from them by the servants of the Lord some whereof are now glorifyed and others through grace ready to seal it with their blood Concerning God and his Atributes Christ and his Offices the Holy Spirit and it's manifestations the decrees of God before time the two Covenants viz. the Law and the Gospel the wreched state of all men by Nature and out of Christ the freeness of Gods grace Joh. 5 39. 1 Tim. 4.13 in opposition to mans free-will The Doctrine of Justification by the imputed Righteousness of Christ apprehended and received by Faith Sanctification distinct from Justification wrought by the Spirit in us Perseverance Assurance and growth in Grace by vertue of our union with Christ and his spiritual in dwelling and operating in us Living Godlily Righteously and Soberly in this present World Denying our selves following Christ shunning sin resisting Satan separating from the world in matters of Gods worship not medling with nor mingling the Traditions of men with Gods truths joyning your selves to and continuing in the fellowship of Saints and using carefully and conscientiously all the Ordinances of Christ as Preaching Hearing and expounding Scriptures keeping up publick family and private prayers Prophesying and singing of Psalms Hymnes and spirial Songs in the Churches Repetition of Sermons Observing the Sabbath Baptism and the Supper of the Lord and upon occasion dayes of solemn fasting or Rejoycing visiting one another especially the tempted and the sick relieving the poor and in case of scandal and heresie to deal with offending members by Admonition Suspention or Excommunication according to the Nature of the Offence and carriage of the Offender doing all your duties to magistrates Masters Parents Husbands Brethren Neighbours and Enemies according to the blessed commands of Jesus Christ Withall expecting the destruction of Antichrist the Restauration of the Jewes the Coming Kingdom and Raign of Christ still remembring your latter end the immortality of your precious Souls believing the Resurrection of the Body the Judging of all and the Salvation of the Righteous Finally my Brethren the hour of temptation being come upon us let us redeem time be watchful and sober keeping our lights burning our Lamps shining our Loyns girded our consciences awakned our garments unstained Let us fear God more than men Sin more than suffering self more then others living basely more than dying Christianly and Nobly Let us wisely consider Gods works Ps 64.9 Esa 5.12 and wonders though others should slight them and maintain Gods Wayes and Cause though they be despised by most and let us not carnally comply with nor superstitiously conform to the world to save our estates Liberties or Lives Nor yet forsake the assembling of your selves together but edifie confirm and comfort one another Encouraging the weak helping to restore those that are faln and to establish those that yet stand Doing your duties commanded by God what ever danger may come thereby Keeping your selves from error and every evil thing by the holy spirit in you And as our Saviour commands John 14.1 be not troubled praying also earnestly that neither I nor you may suffer for sin or sin in suffering not be sensless under present or faint under future tryals Let us
* So Isa 3.4 babes ask bread and no man doth break it to them though sought 5 They that delicately did feed in the streets are des'late They that in scarlet were brought up dung-hils embrace of late 6 For the punishment of the sin and of th' iniquity Of the daughter of my People is greater in degree Then the punishment of the sin of Sodom that 's orethrown As in a moment and no hand staid on her falling down 7 Her Naz'rits were purer than snow than milk they were whiter Their bodies ruddier than rubies their †Polishing decking of Saphir 8 Their visage blacker is than cole not known in th' streets of some Their withered skin cleaves to their bones like a stick it 's become 9 The slain with the sword are better than those by hunger kill'd For these flow out struck through †So Hebr. with want of the fruits of the field 10 The pittiful womens own hands sod their own children dear They were their meat in the slaughter of my Peoples daughter 11 The Lord accomplish'd his fury his fierce wrath out he pour'd He kindled fire in Zion and her foundations devour'd 12 The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants below Would not have believed that the adversary or foe And that the crule enemy should prevail over them Have forcibly entred into the gates of Jerus'lem 13 For the sins of her Prophets and her Priests iniquities That have shed the blood of the just in midd'st her is this 14 They †Heb. the same mov'd as blind men in the streets they have polluted much Themselves with blood so that men could not once their garments touch 15 They cry'd unto them depart ye for it is polluted Depart ye depart ye touch not when away they had fled And wandred they said among the heathen every where They shall no longer inhabit nor sojourn with us here 16 The Lord's anger divided them hee 'l them no more esteem The Priests persons they did not †favour prize nor th' Elders highly deem 17 As for us our eyes as yet fail'd for our vain help we have Watch'd in watching for a Nation which yet could us not save 18 They hunt our steps that we cannot go in our streets safely Our end is near our days fulfil'd for our end 's come quickly 19 Our persecutors swifter are than th' Eagles of Heaven They pursu'd and laid wait for us on hills in desart then 20 The breath of our nostrils is gone which refresh'd our spirits The annointed of †Heb. Jehovah was taken in their pits Of whom we said and surely hop'd that under his shadow Among the heathen we shall live which hope is vanish'd now 21 Rejoyce and be exceeding glad O daughter of Edom That dwellest in the land of Vz the cup also shall come And likewise pass through unto thee and thou drunken shalt be And make thy self naked because of thine iniquity 22 The punishment accomplish'd is of thine iniquity O thou sad daughter of Zion he will no more carry Thee away to captivity thy sins he will visit O daughter of Edom he will thy sins discover yet CHAP. V. O Lord †Heb. signifies to remember or mind mind what is come on us think on and see our shame Our portion is turn'd to strangers our houses aliants claim We are orphans and fatherless our mothers as widdows We drank our water for money our wood is sold to us Our necks are under grievous and sore Persecution Whe labour and we have no rest our state Lord think upon We have through want given the hand to the Egyptians And to be satisfi'd with bread to the Assyrians Our father 's sin'd and they are not and their †Iniquities sins born have we Servants rul'd or'e us ther 's none that from their hand doth us free We gat our bread with the peril of our lives and no less Because of the devouring sword of the dry wilderness Our skin was black like an oven through sore famine likewise They ravish'd th' women in Zion and maids in Judah's Cities Princes once powerful are now by their hand up hanged The faces of our grave Elders were no whit honoured They took the beautiful young men to grind to make them food And the children through their weakness did fall under the wood The Elders have ceas'd from the gates the youths from their †â—sick playing The joy of our heart is now ceas'd our dance turn'd to mourning The Crown is fallen from our heads wo to us we did sin For this our heart is faint for these things our eyes now are dim Because the mountain of Zion which is now desolate The cunning foxes upon it do boldly walk of late Thou O Lord for ever remain'st like to thee there is none Thy throne from generation to generation Wherefore dost thou forget us Lord and that for evermore And us forsake †So Heb. in the Margin for length of days this makes our suffering sore Turn thou us unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned Renew our days as thou of old did'st and hast promised But thou O Lord hast utterly we fear rejected us Against us thou art very wroth yet justly thou deal'st thus A true CHRISTIANS PILGRIMAGE Or AFFLICTED-STATE Setting forth Pathetically and Mystically a Saints Night and Day or Sorrow and Joy Most of it being A Vision seen in Affliction and profitable for Edification and Consolation The flying Sun the fading Shaddow The dismal Night the welcom Morrow O Glorious Sun that run'st with joy thy race And daily shewst the world thy goodly face Shine forth upon my Dyal tho but clay That I may rightly know the time of Day I thought it was scarce Noon but now I see The shadows of the Evening covering me Alas where have I been what have I done Had I my back all this while on the Sun Or did I sleep or dream that all my year A Summer without Winter would appear Alas my †Those six Words signifie the Conscience Watch Alarm and my Clock My mourning Dove my Sentinel and Cock. Slept all at once until that audibly One said the King and all his Train past by Then startling out of slumber I look'd out And saw his whirling Chariots fly about Ah thought I then I must lurk in the shade Until the Worlds great light doth Retrograde Where am I now on what ground do I stand I cannot see my right from my left hand Is this a Hill or Plain is' t Land or Water Oh! whither shall I step or flee for shelter I am soon doted and quite at a loss Already turn'd into my first Chaos Is there no hope of Light Oh I see none Where are the [a] Angels Pleiades and Orion Are all God's sparkling [b] Scriptures Diamonds divine So clad with clouds that none of them do shine I see not one about this Canopy Sad soul how fast comes on thy misery But where art thou fair [c] Church Moon wilt thou appear O [d] True Christian hearb of Grace lo here but ne'r the near Where is thy light O help if ever now Ah I cannot for the * Which is the cause of the Moons Eclipse earths thick shadow Hath interposed so between me and thee I am eclips'd look for no light from me
to death In some cases doubtless it is altogether unlawful to fly as when the persecution is general or when a standing or witnessing may be to Gods glory or when a man hath a special boldness given to him to suffer such as Stephen and Paul had Act. 6.10 and 7.51.20.22.18.10 yet in some cases as well Preachers as other may flee See Mat. 10.23 and 2.13 Joh. 10.39 Acts 8.1 and 11.19 9.25 and 19.13 1 Kings 11.13 and 19.3 Mic. 2.10 Heb. 11.37 Rev. 12.6 Couns 8 Be preparing hasting to meet the Lord by an earnest following after what is before you and do not forsake God or draw back to any sin or sinful service but giving your selves to prayer for before the Angels descend to sound the Trumpets or pour the Viols the smoke of the incense must ascend to God n Rev. 8.5 And it is very remarkable that where God saith The Lord our God is one God the word Eched which signifies one o Deut. 6.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew is written with a great D in the end of it thus Eche D also where it is said Thou shalt worship no other God the word Achar which signifies other is written with a great R thus Acha R p Ex. 34.14 signifying that God is exceeding jealous in his worship to a letter that he alone according to his own word only must be worshiped for he that worshipeth any other or otherwise worshipeth the Beast and he that worshippeth the Beast worshipeth the Dragon and Devil q Rev. 13.4 Therefore do not as the Jewes did change the word Baal into Bosheth but still retained their Idolatry change names keep things Defile not your selves r Rev. 3.4 but come perfectly out of Babylon and all false worship and cleanse and keep your selves pure from all iniquity touch not any unclean thing That God may receive you Å¿ 2 Cor. 6.17 and count you worthy to escape the evils that are coming upon the Earth and enable you to stand before the Son of max at his appearing t Luc. 21.36 Couns 9 Lastly be Patient for of all other lessons that is to be exercised in time of tribulation u Ro. 12.12 for without that Christians cannot possesse or injoy their Souls w Luke 21.19 And of all graces patience sometimes hath the Preheminence When Paul reckons up many instances by which he and Timothy did prove themselves to be the Ministers of God and desired to be so approved among the Corinthians he begins with patience It is a needfull x He. 10.36 commendable y Ja. 5.11 Rev. 2.2.9 and much rewarded grace z Re. 13.10 14.12 Jam. 1.4 Ch. 5.7 It begins in Christ and ends in a Crown and Kingdom and they do best and most overcome that use it Therefore let patience have its perfect work Whilst the husbandman sigheth for the hard season the Corne rooteth and whilst he waiteth the harvest cometh and this shall begin the words of Consolation ground of Consol 1 Because the chief cause of their troubles and afflictions especially from Satan and his Instruments is Christ himself and the hatred of men against him as he saith Ye shall be hated of all men for my name-sake a Ma. 10.20 And all these things will they do unto you for my name-sake b Jo. 15.21 And because they follow the thing that is good c Ps 38.20 And run not with them i. e. the wicked into the same excesse of riot or confused mixtures d 1 Pet. 4.4 as it is in some margents These are properly the causes as appears clearly by their not persecuting the same Persons whilst they continue Profane or if they turn Apostates though the Persecutors pretend it it is for disobedience to Rulers c. which was the main pretence the enemies of the Jews and against Nehemiah and Ezra e Neh. 6.6 the â—ewes against Christ f Luk. 23.2 though Pilate himself could see it was only for envy g Ma. 27.18 this also was imputed to the Apostles and Martyrs in all Ages as now it is but falsly and the worst enemies may say if they speak what is in their consciences as Daniels enemies did We shall not find occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the Law of his God h Dan. 6.5 And that they might have occasion against him they would make a Law directly contrary to the Law of God This is just as if a School-master that hath feud against one of his Scholars father will give that Scholar a strict command to obey him but to disobey his Father whereas he is willing to obey both and upon the breach of this unlawful command he beats the Scholar let any judge which is most worthy of blame the Master or Scholar ground of Consol 2 Because the time of the Saints troubles and afflictions is their sowing time They that sow in tears shall reap in joy and be that goeth forth weeping bearing precious seed shall doubtlesse come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him i Psa 126.5 6. Here is promised Joy for Sorrow Rejoycing for Weeping reaping for sowing a coming back for going forth and sheaves for handfuls and all this certain And whilst Gods people are sowing the precious seed of tears God is sowing Light or comfort and gladnesse of heart for them Therefore a Christian should like a Husbandman k Ps 96.11 sow in hope and his afflictions should no more discourage him than the former rain doth the natural Sower for Christ foretold his Disciples that they should weeep l Luk. 6.20 and lament here m Jo. 16.20 but their weeping is as the labour and pangs of a woman in order to following joy n v. 21. But marke ground of Consol 3 Thirdly Christ commanded his Disciples in such time especially to rejoice and be comfortable Rejoice saith he and be exceeding glad o Mat. 51 2 or as another Evangelist writes p Lu. 6.23 Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy suffering daies are most proper daies for rejoycing for then Christians partake of the sufferings of Christ q 1 Pe. 4.13 and the Spirit of God and of Glory then rests most upon them r v. 14. Suffering unto a true Saint is like Vineger which though it be sower yet it doth make the blood thinner and causes it to run more effectually through every part ground of Consol 4 Because the people of God did generally rejoice in their afflictions and sufferings The Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christs Name Å¿ Act. 5.41 So other Saints took the spoyling of their goods joyfully t He. 10.34 The Martyrs like the Crickets were merry in the fire and like the Nightingale that sings with her bare Breast upon the Thorns They were as Paul more than exceedingly joyful in
Sin is Soul-Restorative-Phyfick Consider that when you are not assaulted with Temptations Satan is damming and pounding and he will suddenly draw up his sluce and let loose upon you Satan doth not like God warn before he strike Christs Work is Wages and his Service perfect Freedom The Love of the Master the Sweetness of the Service and the Greatnesse of the Reward are sufficient Encouragements to serve Christ Afflictions sink the flesh and raise the Spirit To receive Evil viz. Affliction for doing Good is sweet A Christians security and safety is in doing his duty and he should study his duty more then his safety He that loves not Christ more than his lust or his life is like to lose Christ and his life but he that loves Christ more then his life will be sure to save and keep both Strive greatly to have and to exercise a good Conscience towards God and men to commit thy soul life and cause to the Lord and to expect the worst of men and the best of Christ Some Saints do ill in seeking to do well espeially in provoking and pressing other Christans in dark and doubtfull things beyond their own Apprehensions Consciences the bent of their spirits and abilities This is Com. As a man that is Exceedingly well-hors'd travelling with others that are but meanly hors'd drives too hard for his Companions who yet intend to go to the same Place and endeavour to travel as fast as they can Com. Christ is unto the soul as the Load-Stone to the Iron dawing it to it Self or the Chrystal to other stones putting beauty and lustre on them Sence over-rules Imagination Reason Sence and Faith all three in a true Christian A Christian beholds Christ in the deepest affliction as well as in the most spiritual Ordinance Com. As one beholds the Sun in looking upon a deep Pond as well as in looking up to heaven A true Christian when he goes hence changes neither his Work nor Company but his Place and Condition only God leads many of his best friends by the hand without Candle light or assurance to their rests Com. To dye should be no more to a Christian then to breath Com. or to pass over a great River on a Sure Bridge Com. or in a Safe Boat or to return from a Field where a man hath been working to his own house to take his rest To be able to refist strong Temptations there must be either store of in-laid Grace or faith must fly quickly to that Grace laid up in Christ for it Com. Christ is like a tender Parent that is carefull to bring up his Children but many Professors like Undutiful and Unnatural Children forget them in their straits Contented to be maintained by Truth in Prosperity but not to maintain Truth in Adversity Com. Corruptions are like Wormes in the maw or stomach which will eat through the soul unless scattered killed and purged out Com. The only way sometimes for a Christian to avoyd the force of temptation is Soulderlike to fall down on his face when he sees the Cannon or Musket fir'd against him Com. A Christians eye should be like the Adamant turning only toward one Point even Christ Com. Much grace especially zeal and exercised brings persecution As the sweeter and better the Fruit is the more flinging there is at the Tree Make hast to doe thy work Christian and God will make haft to give thee thy wages On Christian why should not that please thee who art but finite that pleases God who is infinite even Christ Pray that thy last dayes and last works may be thy best ☜ And that when thou com'st to dye thou mayst have nothing else to do but dye Thou must dye once whether thou Suffer or no and thou canst dye but once if thou suffer The sins of Saints are new Sufferings to Christ and the Sufferings of Saints are the wounds of Christ A Saint should desire to die that he may be fully freed from sin have a full fruition of Christ that he may be above all fears and doubts and able to serve the Lord uncessantly and unweariedly Reading the Scriptures helps Metitation Meditation Prayer and Prayer every good Work When you come to die it will trouble you not only that you liv'd sinfully or in doing evil but sloathfully in not doing good nay not only that you were sloathfull in good but that you spent so much time in things lesse profitable which should have been spent about and in the things which were most advantagious Man may come too late to God when the door is shut but God never comes to late to men Christ may come in to afflicted Souls through some back-door or Affliction which they do not expect him to come through or in at Com. Let the Child be contented to take the breast the Mother will give it and then it shall have both so be contented with what Christ gives you and you shall want nothing To see the want of Grace is much the worth of Grace more 'T is hard to get Grace hard to get assurance of Grace hard to use it and not abuse it 'T is very hard to behold our own gift without pride and the gifts of others if they excel ours without envy Com. As a little Candle-stick becomes a small Candle so a litle Church a Pastor or Teacher that hath but little grace and weak gifts It is better and surer for thy self to be a Toe than an Eye a Member then a Teacher in a Congregation And this I often wish'd might have been my condition Take heed of covering any mans good with his Evil but let the one plead for him as well as the other against him Do not commend thy friend nor discommend thy foe too much lest thou be judg'd to be partial Lose not thy reward by seeking thy self in thy work Com. I have oft observed that some old welstor'd Christians are like Merchants who have full ware-houses but will sell but in Whole-sales And other young Professors like pidling-pedlers crying about the streets every trifle Com. I have observed that men of great learning and parts or of great wealth and power have for the most part disturbed and devided Churches Also that those Churches never stood long that made Opinion and not Godl-fess and Christianity the foundation of their nellowship The best way for a Teacher and his Congregation to live quietly and comfortably together is for either of them to give to the other what God requires and not to demand expect or exact one from another and so Husband and Wife and all other Natural Relations He commands most and best that commands in love humility and self-denyingly He is most a Master that is most a Servant Be not ye Christians call'd Masters yet the People give them honor according to their place grace years and labours He hath not learned to rule that hath not learned to obey An even through-pac'd self-fearing heart-melting Christian is
till the Lord gives them some fresh Grace to act Grace formerly received Let none marvel that a Cloud covers and hides the splendor of the Stars when there hath been such an Eclipse upon the Sun no more that such small sufferings should befall the Saints when the Son of God did suffer so much Christians should take heed lest God should sue them upon an Action of Waste for wafting Time and mis-spending Mercies c. Likewise lest they over-shoot themselves in things lawfull for mark this most of a Christian's failings are either from good ends or excess in lawful things Sence of Misery must precede sence of Mercy There are two degrees or sorts of Miseries 1. sinning 2. suffering for Sin And two degrees or parts of felicity 1. Freedom from Sin and Suffering and 2. Fellowship with God in Grace and Glory At the day of death but specially at the Day of Judgment a Saint will wish he had sinn'd less serv'd God better ☜ and suffered for him more He is a strong Christian that seeks God's Glory more than his own Salvation ☜ but no Christian that seeks neither As it is the character of all Hypocrites especially these of the latter days to love themselves and their pleasures more than God 2 Tim. 3.2 4. So of true Christians to love God better than their own lives Revel 12.11 Satan is said twice to be cast out of Heaven and once cast down Rev. 12.9 10. Duties ill perform'd or carnal Duties are spiritual sins Take heed of Unbelief for 1. It cuts you short of Christ and all his benefits and promises 2. It binds all your other sins upon you It is both Humanity and Christianity to be courteous kind and merciful to all but not to be friendly with all much less to confide in all or commit your counsels to all Christians are apt often to be most weary of that condition that doth them most good It is a great evil in Christians to desire to come out of Affliction before it hath wrought Gods end upon and in them As a man that is weary of his Physick whilst it is working Com. As a husband that bestows Jewels upon his wife when she delights more in them than in her husband takes them away again from her So Christ doth with his People when he sees them abuse the good things he besows upon them When and where Wickednesse is most then and there the godly should strive to be most godly Com. As the Snow covers many fowl and dirty places and things yet when it is melted those things will appear So profession covers many corruptions which when men fall from their base wickedness will appear God doth never out-speak or out-promise his Power Truth and Faithfulness If Gods people could be diligent at their own work and leave God at his work they need not fear successe Com. As the Stars the higher they are the swifter their motion So Christians the more spiritual the more Active in the service of God Want of love to the Saints and sensible thoughts and consideration of their Condition makes us pray so seldom and so strait-hearted for them Godliness is an eying of God owning of God and imitaing and respecting of him in all our waies Nothing comes amisse to a Godly man but Sin Sin undiscovered or unconsidered becomes Sin unrepented Christians may with Godly boldness and reverence as well expect through Christ that God will do his work which he hath promised as he requires they should do the work they are commanded There are many that serve themselves of Christ but few that serve Christ for his own sake It is hard to be skilful in the work of believing and diligent in the work of sanctification at once because there is a double self-denyal therein of our righteousness and sins A Christian should learn to discern the Good and Evil and strive to improve the Talents he hath received better If Gods people were not sometimes afflicted they would forget both themselves and others for affliction works humiliation in men themselves and compassion towards others Christians should labour to see so much bitterness in Sin as may sweeten Christ and so much sweetness in Christ as may imbitter sin to them and labour to attain to more knowledge in the Covenant of Grace and to such a measure of true Repentance and Reformation as may make believing easy and Holiness delightful It is a hard thing for a Profane man to attain to the shaddow a carelesse though true Christian to the substance of Religion So for the true Saint that hath the substance to keep up the sence and savour either of good Jesus or bad Sin in his heart alwaies Oh what time do Saints mispend what duty neglect what Mercy slight what Corruptions imbrace what Temptations lye under what corrections undervalue Oh what heart-qualms and fleshly weakenesses cry upon them to make ready and yet how unready how unripe unwilling unmindful and unthoughtful are we of our latter end and this because we are unassured of grace unweaned from the world unweary of Sin unbroken from self and unapprehensive of the glory to be revealed and enjoyed hereafter Christians should be alwaies pressing for some clearer and fuller Tokens of Christs love for more of his constant and continued presence for more sence and experience of the inward workings of his spirit and for more of his likeness and Image in Heart and Life Com. As a corrupt breath darkens a transparent Glass so doth corrupt communications or a carnal conversation the Gospel and Godliness Gods people have the love of God shewed to and set before them shed in them and sealed to them Com. Christians should be like fish in salt water keeping themselves among the wicked pure and uncorrupted and not as glow-wormes making a shew of having light but not having it indeed in them Let not a Christian leave off his running till he comes to the end of his Race but like the Moon though she be eclipsed yet forsakes not her Orbe nor discontinues her Course at all Men that are converted may say as the woman of Samaria faid Joh. 4.39 c. Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves That though the Preacher tels them things outwardly they come also to see and hear Christ himself in their hearts Christ hath sufficient power to propagate his Gospel and work in the World though all his Messengers should be slain or shut up And therefore they should not do evil in hope of doing good comply with mens Ceremonies under the Notion of propagating truth or pretend their ministry when they intend their maintenance It is a sad thing to be armed with knowledge but not with power against Sin I have often experienced the truth of that Scripture Psa 46.1 That God is a present help in time of trouble especially when I cry unto the Lord for help even in the hour and moment of violent
temptation God hath heard me and frightned away the Temptation The wonderful work of God is much seen in preserving the Saints from the worship of the Beast Rev. 15.2 3. Be sure to praise God when you receive power agaist Sin and Temptation and you shall be sure to find God ready to give you power another time when you want it When thou art talking with thy Eenemy be sure to have thy eye upon his Sword and thy hand upon thy own watch how Satan or Sin intends to overcome you and how you may best disadvantage them Be still imployed in doing good and you shall not be much tempted or troubled with Evil. Some Christians have more trouble from and for temptation and Sin in one day than they have for suffering many Months Though a Christian should not adventure or dare to do or commit the least evil to gain the greatest good yet sometimes God makes some sin to do more good to a true Saint than many Ordinances and services Com. As a man that hath had great Plague-sores after they have been broken and healed the party becomes more healthy many years after or as some of the Physicians say the strongest poyson as Opium if it can be mastered and corrected it becomes the most Soveraign Physick But no other Physician but Christ can make Sin work good to the Godly as that expression of the Apostle Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good Perkins in his Case of Cons is judged by many Interpreters to comprehend Sin in it as well as suffering as the same words All things are taken in other Scriptures Act. 13.39 Eph. 5.13 And some say that the drinking of the wine wherein the Viper which is one of if not the most poysonful Creature hath been drowned will cure the Leprosy But this Viperous Poyson Sin is warily to be thought on and understood and 't is as when a Husband-man sees a Mole spoyling his ground he is moved the rather to turn water over it which is a means to kill and drown many more So a true Christian sometimes at the sight or sence of one corruption maketh search for and finds out many which puts him more earnestly to wrestle with God for more of his Spirit Power and grace against them all A Hypocrite knowes more than he is willing to do but a true Saint desires to do what he knows and to know more that he may do more and better The liberty of a Saint is not to be indifferent to do this or that but to be free in things that are excellent The actual sins of Men do not so much offend Christ as that they will not have him to be their Saviour Some means to help on Assurance and Holiness 1. Labour after a clearer knowledge of the Covenant of Grace and Testament of Christ as what Christ hath done and suffered for whom and upon what conditions men come to partake thereof 2. Consider these two works of Holiness and Assurance to be the proper works of the Spirit of God and therefore is called the Spirit of Holiness and of Grace because it doth sanctify and Seal the people of God Rom. 1.7 Zach. 12.10 2 Thes 2.13 Ephes 4.30 3. The Soul is to be perfectly off from beholding or depending upon any thing in self or done by self Esa 64.6 2 Cor. 1.9 Rev. 3.17 When the spirit of God seals our Souls as witnesses we do believe and are Gods Children Eph. 1.13 Rom. 8.16 there will be none of our own Signs or qualifications seen but like the Stars they will disappear when the Sun shines yet are still Stars and fixed so are Graces in believers 4. Be diligent in praying for Assurance and in using other means epsecially self-examination Heb. 6.12 2 Cor. 13.5 5. Take heed of all Sins for they put back the Soul both in beleiving and holiness Psal 51.8 11. Luke 22.31 32. 6. Give not way to hard thoughts of God neither entertain that principle of falling from Grace which cannot possibly consist with Assurance See Esa 63.16 and 64.8 Jer. 3.19 and 32.40 Phil. 1.6 Rom. 8.35 36. 7. Look narrowly to your Hearts Tongues Steps and Waies and keep a Diary of Gods dealings and your own walkings Prov. 4.23 Psal 24.25 26. Heb. 12.13 8. Exercise Repentance constantly upon every slip and fall into sin confess them mourn for them be ashamed and humbled for them and labour to hate them and loath your selves for them Lev. 26.40 41. Psal 32.15 Jer. 3.21 Ezek. 7.19 2 Cor. 7.11 Jam. 4.8 9. Eze. 20.43 THE Lamentations OF JEREMIAH IN MEETER CHAP. I. HOw doth the City sit alone that full of People was How is she become a widdow she that was great alas Among the Nations and Princess in Power and Glory Among the Provinces Is she become Tributary 2 She weepth now sore in the night and on her checks are teares She hath none for to comfort her among all her Lovers All her Friends have dealt treach'rously with her and now they are Become her real Enemies she could not them beware 3 Judah is gone into Bondage because of Affliction For their greatness of Servitude how sad is dear Zion She dwelleth among the Heathen she finds no rest but waits Her Persecutors overtake her between the sore straits 4 The ways of Zion do mourn much because none come of late Unto the solemn Feasts but all her Gates are desolate Her Priests do sigh her Virgins are afflicted too no less And she Jerusalem her self is in great bitterness 5 Her Adversaries are the chief her Enemies prosper Because the Lord himself for sins hath so afflicted her For her many Transgressions into Captivity Her little children are now gone before the Enemy 6 And from the Daughter of Zion all her beauty departs Her Princes have lost their Courage and are become like Harts That find no pasture any where and they are gone fainty Without strength before the face of the Pursuer they be 7 Jerusalem minded in the days of her Affliction And of her Miseries all her pleasant things that are gone That she had in the dayes of old when her People did fall * Dutch Transt By the hand of the Enemy and none help'd her at all The Adversaries look on her and at her Sabbaths mock'd 8 Jerusalem sin'd grievously therefore she is remov'd All that did honour her before hate her and not regard Because they saw her nakedness she sighs and turns backward 9 Her filthiness is in her skirts she her last end not minds Therefore she came down wonderfully no comforter she finds O Lord behold my affliction for the proud enemy Against thee and against me Lord himself doth magnifie 10 The adversary hath spread out his hand on all strongly Her pleasant things for she hath seen into the Sanctuary The heathen entred whom thou didst command that there should none Of them at all enter into thy Congregation 11 All her People do sadly sigh they seek bread