persons And the Tabernacle and the Temple were holy and not to be used in civil employments 2. More particularly concerning this holiness I desire to shew you what it is by shewing you it must be such a holinesse and separation as that the service done to God in those places must be accounted and looked upon as a better service and more accepteble then if so be it had been done elsewhere more acceptable to God and advantagious to our selves Now as places are said to be holy in regard they are only to be for holy services so 2. Holy in regard that holy services are only to be done there with acceptation or advantage at least with so great acceptation And therefore I desire you to take notice that places in Scripture were said to be holy which did sanctifie the Worship which was done in them and sanctifie the Worshippers and so the very places are part of worship and so not only places in which God was worshipped but by which God was worshipped And thus the Sabbath was sanctified and so the performance of Gods worship therein made Gods service more acceptable and sanctified And so the Altar when it was holy it made the gift the more holy and sanctified and so the more acceptable the Altar sanctified the gift Mâ—…t 23. 18 19. And so the Incense was acceptable to God as being put into such a Censor And so the service done to God in such Garments was more acceptable because done in them which God had instituted and appointed for Aaron and his Sons to wear And so I have opened the first thing in the explanation and that is to shew you wherein hoâ—…iness consists and how it is that places or things may be said to be holy and I think I have sufficiently cleared the notion to you 2. To shew what the cause or the foundation of this holinese is for this my Brethren I shall desire you also to take notice of it more generally and then more particularly 1. More generally That the cause and the foundation of a place or any other things holiness it is its belonging to God Gods peculiar relation to it and propriety in it declared as he shall please And therefore to be holy and to be Gods are words of the like importance or equivolent its being Gods and his having a relation to it is the foundation and cause of its holiness And therefore if you look into Exodus 13. 2. you shall there find God commands that they should sanctifie unto him all the first-born it is mine there now is that which is the cause and reason and ground of its being sanctified or holy it is God himself God hath a propriety in it And therefore I desire you to look into Luke 2. 23. it will open this notion to you there you shall see that this command is again repeated but yet in other words and therefore ye saith As it is written in the Law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord that which is said in one place to be sanctified or separated is here said to be holy and therefore holy because separated to God Levit. 27. 30. All the Tithes of the land is the Lordâ—… it is holy unto the Lord it is holy and therefore holy because because it is the Lords So that here is the general answer This is the foundation ground and cause of its holiness Gods peculiar propriety in it it is the Lords 2. More particularly That the declared propriety that God hath in any place or his relation to a place or its belonging unto God that is the foundation of its holiness This belonging unto God or Gods propriety in it is declared two wayes It s belonging unto God is declared 1. From his presence 2. From his Precept 1. By his presence Now the presence of God that was the foundation of the holiness of a place was twofold 1. Extraordinary 2. Ordinary 1. The Extraordinary presence of God was by his miraculous Apparitions and discovering himself by some miraculous token vision sign or manifestation of his presence as now here in this burning and not coâ—…sumed â—…ush here was a miraculous â—…oken of Gods presence We shall and in the fifth of Ioshua â—…nd the last verse God commands Ioshua to put off his shooes Loose thy shooes from off thy feet for the place wheâ—…eon thou standest is holy ground And Ioshua did so And therefore as I conceive hence it is the Mountain in which Christ was transfigured is called The holy Mountain 2 Pet. 1. 18. And this voyce which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount Why holy Not as if it were holy at that time when the Apostle writ that Epistle but it were manifest there was an extraordinary manifestation and sign of Gods presence and so long as this extraordinary manifestation of Gods presence continued it was called holy And this miraculous manifestation of the gloriousness of Christs Godhead ceasing the holiness of that place ceased also And remember this place now of Gods extraordinary miraculous manifestation of himself in the Bush was holy for that time and no longer wherein he did manifest himself for otherwise in the time of the Law it were unholy to offer up sacrifice there 2. As the presence of God was extraordinary so it is ordinary which is two fold 1. The presence of his standing residence in a place by some visible or external Symbole or else 2. The presence of God is a spiritual presence in the religious services and performances of his people in the place of their Meetings and Assemblies Now concerning the first of these 1. The presence of God by the more visible and lasting tokens of his presence which was chiefly afforded in the time of the Levitical Pedagogue so the Altar Temple Ark and Mercy-seat were symbols of Gods presence among that people by them God signified his presence he recorded his name there by those visible tokens of his presence and therefore the Ark was said to be Gods face and when the Ark was lifted up it was said Let God arise and let his Enemies be scattered Hence they so much rejoyced when the Ark came intâ—… the City of David because it was the sign of Gods presence and mourned when it was taken away captive And God is said to deliver his glory into captivity that is the token of his glorious presence and as long as this continued God was looked upon as there present and thither the people went to pray and offer Sacrifice And thus God more fixedly declared his durable relation to a place by these tokens and while these continued in a place he was looked upon to be there 2. Gods ordinary presence is considerable in the Religious services of his people and this I call the rather the more spiritual presence of God this is that presence of God in the Ordinances which we have we hope this day
here This is the Love of God that we keep his Commandements It is not love in Word and in Tongue but in reality a love discovering it self by a consciencious care to hold conformity to all the Will of God And if any should object This is a hard saying Who can bear it saith the Apostle No such matter there is never a Believing Soul will say The Commandements of Christ are grievous or burdensome no they are leight to them that are brought over to the faith of the Gospel And the last thing I have to charge upon you upon the account of your Gospel-believing and being brought over to a closing with Christ it is this and so upon the matter I have given you an account of the substance of this precious Chapter having reduced it to that general Doctrine I propounded before I say the last thing is this That you would walk suitable to a Believing state by being very carefull concerning your Worships that you do perform that they be according to God and according to the Gospel and this is that which the Apostle closes the Chapter withall in the 21 Verse Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen As I take it in the former Translation it was Babes Babes keep your selves from Idols Here it is Little Children I observe in this Epistle the Apostle makes a distinction of Believers into three Ranks as you shall find in the second Chapter I write unto you Little Children I write unto you Young men and I write unto you Fathers in the close of the Epistle he concludes with this Charge to Little Children Now whether he includes all the rest under this Title of Little Children I forbear to dispute But sure I am it is a duty lies upon one and other whether they be Babes or Young men or Aged Fathers in Christ Whatever our rank and condition be I am sure of this This is a great Duty that lies upon all that will approve themselves in Godliness and to be brought over to the faith of the Gospel that they look to their Worships and that they take heed of Idols as if he should say He that is born of God he keeps himself that the wicked One doth not touch him Oh Little Children shew forth that spiritual Ability that by grace you are furnished withal by being able to keep your selves from Idols It might be said What is this to us Are we in danger of Idols True well might the Apostle give in such a Charge to them in those times when the greatest part of the World were in a state of Heathenism and in estrangement from Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel But this I say It doth really concern Christians in Gospel-times that have had the breakings out of the Gospel-light and the knowledge of Gospel-mysteries to be careful of this Charge that they keep themselves from Idols There were the Idols of the Heathens grant it and so still there are a generation of People that our Souls should mourn over to consider their state that are wrapt up in ignorance of God know nothing of the true God and of our Lord Jesus Christ and it is the state and condition of the Jews at this day and what a sad condition are they in Grant it that they do not worship Idols after the manner of the Heathens yet they worship not the true God because they worship not God in Christ for saith the Apostle Whoever sins and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ he hath not God He that abides in the Doctrine of the Christ he hath the Father and the Son And so the Jews at this day they not abiding not owning the Doctrine of Christ they have not God because they have not the Father and the Son this is their condition And thus I say there were not only the Idols of the Heathens Oh! but sadly be it spoken there are Idols among Persons pretending to Christ and Gospel-faith and the Doctrine concerning Grace by Jesus Christ. How many Idols and Idolaters are there I might tell you the Covetous person 〈◊〉 an Idolater the Voluptuous person and the Self justitâ—…ary sets up his own Righteousness and Idolizeth that But I say this there are Idols among Christians Papâ—…sts hold forth the Name of Christ but yet what woful Idolatry there is among them There was the Dragon-worship in the time of the Heathens and in the room of that there is come up the Beast-worship and of that Worship the generality of the world runs upon and it concerns us to keep from Popish Idolatry it being the grossest Idolatry that ever was because there is the fairest pretence of worshipping JESUS and yet they turn him into an Idol What else means their worshipping and bowing to Images their breaden gods and the like Oh! therefore it concerns us to keep our selves from Idols And there is a Scripture if it were but well studied would cause trembling of Heart and make all that have any care of their Souls to look about them that Scripture I refer you to it is in Revel 13. compared with the 20th In Revel 13. 11. whereas before there was Dragon-worship it is said here I beheld another Beast comming out of the Earth and he had two Horns like a Lamb and he spake as a Dragon and he exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast before him and causeth the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed now look at the 8. verse saith he And all the dwellers upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Oh! it is a terrible word and that that should make us to fear and tremble lest in any kind we should be drawn into the Worship of the Beast for as many as were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb they were drawn into the Worship of the Beast This is that that should make us keep our selves from Idols from whatsoever hath but so much as a Tincture of Superstition and Idolatry and the rather considering that other Scripture in the 20th of the Revelation and the last verse And whosoever was not found written in the Book of life was cast into the lake of fire All that are not written in the Lambs Book of life are prevailed to perform the worship with the Beast and not being writ there must be tumbled into the Lake for ever This therefore concerns us to keep from Idolatry from whatsoever hath a tendency that way and that hath any tincture of Superstition upon it and consider with your selves that our Duty is in matters of Worship and in things concerning the Worship of God to see to it that we keep a humble dependance upon God that we walk not according to the will of men but according to God You were bought with a price be not Servants of Men. We are to walk by
and they have not one word to speak nor any thing at all for to venture in suffering for the wayes and truths of Jesus Christ Moses had such a holy zeal that when Aaron was an example to the people to lead them to Idolatry he contended with him earnestly to his face The zeal of Gods servants is so small now that though Balaam be about the work we have not a word to speak Though the false prophets of Antichrist be about the businesse yet no Christian hath courage to speak The holy Apostle Paul when Peter walked with an uneven foot and began to Iudaise he tells us he did resist him to his face shall Paul resist Simon-Peter and shall not the Saints of God resist Simon-Magus shall they resist Hymenaeus and Philetus and shall we not contend with Alexander the Copper-smith 't is but sutable to what God expects and the Exhortation here given us That we should maintain it with might and main as that which is our Treasure which we will not let go the Faith once delivered to the Saints To put you upon this I might encourage you with several things all the Reasons mentioned as are so many Motives to this holy spiritual contention Shall I tell you of three words further 1. The mercy of Gods delivering the Truth to you should engage you to this holy contention 't is such a mercy as is a non-such mercy Psalm 147. the two last Verses He that hath given his Iudgements to Iacob and his Statutes to Israel He hath not dealt sâ—… with every Nation How many of the greatest part of those that we call Christians in the world are put like Sampson to grinde among the Philistims Superstition Popery Idolatry will-Will-worship such things as Jesus Christ never delivered to his Saints having both their eyes out the Scripture light that should have shewed them the truth taken from them and their Consciences that should teach them carried in the pocket of some base Priest that dare not think any other then what he will tell them How many are there even of the very reformed of the world who onely get upon some broken plank of Ship-wrackt truth whereby they swim to the Lord Jesus But God does not deal thus with us you have had the whole Counsel of God revealed to you a glorious light set up in the Nation for a hundred of years past which hath been like the light of seven dayes for these twenty years past the running to fro of men hath increast knowledge you have learned the truth from Gods faithful Ministers you have received it with much affliction with many temptations it hath cost Jesus Christ dear to send it it hath cost you dear to receive it and will you let it go Your sin above all others will be most provoking to the Lord Jesus 2. I might tell you that 't is a time wherein many let go the faith and methinks the Lord Jesus does by his poor unworthy messenger speak to this great Congregation as sometime he did to his Apostles Will ye also go away There are many that have been forward and eminent professors of the faith delivered to the Saints that have made ship-wrack of faith and good conscience will you split upon the same rock God hath kept the truth for you and kept you in the truth hitherto and is coming to see whether you will leave it and keep it or no. We have been sucking at the breasts of the Ordinances and dandled upon the Knees of providence and gone on in a smooth way of profession but what will you do now when you must come possibly to suffer persecution for it to keep the faith you may lose your Liberty Life Estate And there 's a great deal of hazard upon this account because it hath pleased God so to dispose it as that those that should be your guides into truth the Lord is removing them into corners Possibly while they have been with you you have kept the faith but what will you do when they are gone While Moses was with the people they cleaved to the Lord when once he was gone into the Mount they fell to their Idolatry and worshipped a Calf While Paul was at Ephesus the flock was kept pure but saith he I know after my departure grievous Wolves shall break in not sparing the flock c. So while you have heard of God who sends voices and warnings to scare away the Wolves and Foxes from you possibly you may keep the faith but what will you do when God removes them 3. God hath ever had in all ages of his Church a word of his Patience to be kept to try his Saints and therefore it does concern you for to be valiant for the truth In all the series of Gods dispensations with his Church there hath been something or other of the faith of Christ that hath cost them resisting to blood to sacrifice their lives to lay down all that they have for it by suffering Now even as they so we if not in the same thing yet in the same faith we have still some word or other of Gods patience to keep therefore we need to have on the Armour of Light you must wrestle with the fierie Tryal for there is some Jewel that Jesus Christ puts upon you to wear that Persecutours Persecutions 〈◊〉 Hereticks will scratch at which you must hold out with loâ—…s of life to keep and this must be till the latter part of the rage and reign of Antichrist is out and even as you keep that so will God keep you Rev. 3. 10. As you honour the word of Gods patience so God will honour you As you are faithfull to him so will he give you the Crown and no otherwise Hence therefore it concerns us all to be armed with a holy confidence and resolution as to this spiritual warfare in contending for the faith delivered to us But the great thing I shall speak to is Wherein may Christians be helped in this holy strugling and contenâ—…ion I shall onely mention five or six things some to fit you for it others to help you in the management of it I shall name them mixtly and not distinct Rule 1. First bring all Doctrines that are offered you to believe and all Practices that are put upon you to practise to the Scriptures the word of God try them there whether they be to be retained or to be rejected You will have this double advantage by it 1. To discover what is right and what is wrong 2. To have on the best part of your Armour whereby to contend against it 1. To discover what is right and what is wrong for the Scripture alone is the Touchstone of Doctrines and the Tryal of Spirits The Scripture does discover it self and doth discover all things that are contrary to it when you are bidden to try all things 't is not by practising all things as some poor giddy-headed Christians of late dayes have done
who have made the practising every opinion to be their trying of it till they have run themselves into all opinions but 't is by the Scripture you are first to try and then to practise who are like the Noble Bereans that were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scripture To bring the Truths that have or shall be taught you or the Doctrines that shall be imposed upon you to the word of God to see whether they be according to the Truth or no for false Doctrines and false Worship of all things they hate the Scripture most they are like falâ—…e coyn or false Jewels which go best in the night false coyn will not endure the Touchstone nor false Jewels the day no more will false Doctrines the Scripture therefore it will be a great way to discover them 2. It will be a great way to vanquish them Eph. 6. Above all take the sword of the Spirit the word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which we slay Heretical Doctrines and by which we are to slay sinful practises All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Geliah's of Error they have been taken out of the brook of the Scriptures therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe all worships that are taught you to practise to the word of God 1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe reduce them thither there 's no profession of faith to be built but the stones must be fetched from that mountain If you believe divine truths but not because the Scripture propounds them your faith is but humane If you believe any thing the Scripture doth not speak your faith is Diabolical the word of God and your faith must run parallel All that is written you must believe and you must believe nothing but what is written This was the Rule of the Old Testament Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony to the Law that is to Moses and to the Testimony that is to the Prophets if they speak not according to these there 's no light in them When any thing was offered to Christ by way of enquiry his common answer was How readest thou Luke 10. 26. How is it written When the holy Apostle Paul would redresse the abuse of the Lords Supper he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers to this and that use and custome but brings that how it was delivered from the Lord he reduces them to the institution What I have received from the Lord that I have delivered to you The word of God is perfect in respect of Doctrine and in respect of worship So that whatsoever is offered you to believe you must try it by the perfect rule for 't is given by Divine institution to make the man of God perfect and wise to Salvation it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received as nothing must be added nor taken from it Rev. 22. Therefore it 's called a Testament Now no man dares add to another man's last Will and Testament who shall dare to add a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect to that which Christ hath delivered I will give you this as a certain observation that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church or any thing of false worship imposed upon the Church but either it was by neglecting the Scripture or by introducing something above the Scripture 2. Bring hither all practice of worship as well as Doctrines to be believed try the wayes and forms of Christs house by the word of Christ he shews us the patterns thereof the outgoings and returnings thereof he was faithful in all his House even as Moses was who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle but did appoint it There is nothing decent and comely in the Church which is so much pleaded for but what comes in by Christs institution Whatever you worship without a warrant from the word of God or by whatever means you worship without a warrant from the word of God you worship you know not what Ioh. 4. 2 't is Will-worship and by the same Rule you receive one Will-worship you may receive twenty 't is vain worship it will never reach the end of your Communion with God for he is a Spirit and seeks such worshippers it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God therefore in point of worship bring it to the word of God and as to faith and worship say Hitherto my faith and my worship shalt thou go and no further This rule rightly improved it will dis-intangle you from the hooks and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith Never any did invent false doctrine but to put up them they put down the Scripture and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it before they use other means to compel them their great work is to darken the light of the truth and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule they set up other Rules which because there are three marvellous Popular I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you There 's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls The name of a Church Ancient Customes The Generality of those where they live 1. The specious Name of a Church to make that a rule to Doctrine and to worship It was the plea of the Popish party in the Marion daies What will you not believe the Church hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this and that and the other will you not believe the Church will you go out from the true Church Thus do men that go about to deceive nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls by making the Church their rule It was the way of of the Popish party of old and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had you must expect it again therefore let me caution you against it Can we enquire who this Church was It was only the decree of the proud Church Antichrist of old and the Antichristian Clergy who as you may read in their Stories would Lord it over the Faith of Gods heritage I must tell you the name and custome and way of the Churches of Christ is a reverend holy thing even of that that is a true Church 'T is a weighty Argument when the Apostle saith We have no such Custome nor the Churches of Christ And therefore I do fully close with him that said No sober man will go against Reason No Christian against the Scripture and no peaceable minded man against the Church But then the Church must shine by a Divine Scripture Light If that be a rule it must be ruled by
darts in some dazling light within so that you never knew a Heretick take up a false opinion but it was with a marvellous deal of sweetness and comfort so when the Lord Christ teacheth by his Spirit he comes with that light that sweetness savour and relish of truth as will be impossible for you to let it go Hence when Christ would confute the Pharises that had the witness of his â—…ather in his works he saith Ioh. 5. 37. Ye have neither â—…ard his voyce at any time nor seen his shape It 's an excellent thing to see the shape and hear the voyce of God 2. Be well rooted upon Christ or else you will never be established in any truth of Christ If you misse the Lord Jesus by the grace of Faith you will never hold fast the doctrine of Faith you are built upon the doctrine of the Apostles not their persons upon which the Lord Jesus is the corner-stone he that does not know Jesus Christ himself will certainly lose his faith What is the reason the stony ground in time of persecution fell away why they had not root they were not planted upon the Lord Jesus Rule 3. Thirdly those truths that God hath taught you and those wayes of worship God hath committed to you love them as your lives love them above your lives for no man will ever contend to hold them if he do not love them things of low price and esteem are presently let go he that loves the Word above his life will let life go rather then the Word if you receive not the Word out of love every Impostor and false Prophet every fear and terror of men will rob you of it Hide the word in thy heart saith Solomon love the truth dearly It was a great speech of Calvin Never did any one apostatize from the truths of Iesus Christ but it was because he did not love the truth And I add this That never did any apostatize from the wayes and truth of Jesus Christ but it was because they did not receive them in love or else they have lost their love for there is a decay of affection as well as having no affection if you love them what will you not suffer for them but more of that by and by Rule 4. Fourthly Guard all the truths of God and those wayes of God that have been taught you guard them strongly especially truths that are most material and fundamental for leading truths are like Captains of Armies if they be routed the whole rout follows them There is great opposition that will be made against your faith The whole power of darkness of Antichrist of his seducing spirits likely and probably enough will over-spread the whole face of Christianity once more that she must sit as a Lady before she be desolate and forsaken for ever The Apostle bids you beware of Dogs beware of the Concision beware of evil-workers guard your selves against them guard the truths you have learned by Argument by Scripture by Reason that you may have wherewithall to confute them by the word of truth mightily out of the Scripture as the Apostles did Three things you are to guard against 1. Your own deceitfulness especially in a rash and sudden forsaking of those waies that have been taught and the profession you have taken up for Christians would never be so mad to Apostatize were they but seriously deliberate about the weight of them Gal. 1. 6. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth c. I marvel what ailed you that you are so soon turned away to another Gospel One would have thought they might have spoken with Paul first and sent to him and reasoned the case with him There 's a marvellous bewitching in false Doctrines and false Worship to take men presently who are not watchful over themselves It is in disputations and practising truth as it is in contentions if you make a Judgement before you hear both parties speak you judge unrighteously if you forsake the waies and truths of Jesus Christ before you hear what can be said for them you do unrighteously 2. Guard them against the lusts of your own hearts The great work of a Christian is contention it is not so much against Antichrist those that are without him as that that is within him If all Heretical Doctrines and waies were rooted out of the world not only the being but the memory the heart is bad enough in one day to set them all on foot again therefore guard the truth Men of corrupt minds will presently grow Reprobate as to the faith 1 Tim. 3. 6. Such Doctrines and Worships as shall sute with our lusts as shall sute with exalting it self and laying Christ low as shall sute with an easie way to Heaven when the Scripture saith straight is the Gate as shall sute with self-preservation So I might secure my Estate my Liberty I would suspect such Doctrines as these before I take them up for the waies of Christ. 3. Guard the truth against false teachers such as shall come among you in sheeps-cloathing yet are Wolves in heart men that creep in at unawares among you to subverâ—… souls I will not here describe them you know them well enough by their fruits only this let me tell you in opposition to those though you cannot come at the publick Ministry or those God hath set over you yet make conscience for to take fences to take defences from them as you may by their counsel prayer help and assistance for to guard you against false teachers When the Church of Christ is in the Wilderness you will finde this is that the holy Ghost advises them to Gant 1. 8. You are to guard your selves by communion one with another as to go forth by the footsteps of the flock so also you are to go and feed your Kids besides the shepherds tents for though 't is not the work that God calls for to pin your faith upon their sleeves yet 't is your duty to enquire of the Lord by them for he is the messenger of the Lord to you Rule 5. Arm your selves with Resolutions to suffer for the faith of the Gospel and for the wayes of Jesus Christ as you should love the truth above your lives so labour to be made willing for to part with life estate liberty any thing for to keep the ways of Jesus Christ. It is not the honour of the Gospel of Christ to hear Christians to break out into murmurings passions discontent contentions that are carnal and sinful your work is humbly meekly and patiently to lie under the hand of God and under the hand of man too that becomes Christians suffering is that that will restore the glory of Religion that will keep the truth delivered to you that will honour the cause of Christ best of all follow the example of blessed Paul his expression is worthy of consideration 2 Tim. 2. 9. he gives a charge of
the Apostle Paul Do I yet strive to please men Gal. 1. 6. Am I then the Servant of Christ You cannot be the Servants of Christ if you strive to please men Wo be to you that please men and displease God He that would be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross c. What 's that deny Wife Children Learning Relations Comforts he must be willing to go out of all Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in they are either those your slothful hearts are most unwilling to do or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer I intended to have taken up four Appearances and coverings that Saints usually take up for to hide themselves as under a covert to beat down the Gospel warrants and commands to suffer for the Faith delivered 1. The notion that a Christian hath of indifferency of things that they are but toyes and trifles that they may be done or not done It is not my work to tell you what is indifferent or name any thing in particular As I remember in the Book of Martyrs the usual argument was Why cannot you worship the Idol why cannot you bow down as well as others it's a small matter cannot you shew your outward reverence and keep your heart to your self Indeed if there were any thing that 's indifferent a Christian hath a marvellous latitude in point of Doctrine in point of Worship I would caution you therefore The term of indifferent I suppose 't is devised as a pillar to rest the conscience on which otherwise would startle and look with a broad face upon them Things that come under this notion had need well to be weighed and considered If they tell you plainly they came out of Rome and had the plague of Popery upon them they â—…ame from Hell were hatched there and the curse of God is upon them no body would entertain them They must pretend they came from the Church from the Apostles descended from the Scriptures and hence they are entertained with that freedome and willingness as that most Christians take no notice but fall down under them and so the very power and life of Religion and holy practise is eaten out The Devil hath three waies whereby he makes men seek after him 1. Commonly he doth cover holiness with other names 2ly He perswades that sins are but little 3ly That they may repent hereafter The first is suitable to my purpose That vertue or grace is covered with other names therefore if a man be holy he is called precise if zealous he is said to be rash and if it be really a sin it shall come under the name of indifferency a toy a trifle and things of that nature therefore you had need be cautious for 't is no matter what name the sin is what title it goes under as what it is really As to things of Doctrine and Worship I know there is no medium every man must give an account to the Lord of what he does therefore I do not tell you what is indifferent and what not but search the Scripture take heed what you receive for indifferent The second thing Christians will say is I hope without danger I may comply with them considering I bear them as my burthens This is very like the Young man in the Gospel he came to Christ and would have him come up to his terms and when Christ told him Yet he lacked one thing Go sell all c. he went away sorrowful So many Christians they would follow Christ but they cannot because there is not such security in it but they will go away sorrowful Thou Hypocrite art â—…hou willing to forsake all for Christ yet cannot leave life liberty and some of these small things Will you wound the name of Christ and pretend to be sorrowful for it I conclude thy pretence shall not excuse thee for so was Pilate loth to crucifie Christ and as a means and expedient he calls for water and washes his hands saying I am innocent from the bloud of this just man But do you think God excused Pilate no more will he you Whatever is brought to you is either forbidden or commanded by God If forbidden by God why do you meddle with it If commanded of the Lord why are you burdened with it why do you it heavily for the Lord loves one that is chearful in his service neither man nor God is pleased with such A third thing it is which satisfies many That they may follow in some things the opinions of wise men holy men and good men That they may do as they do I shall say but these two words First Many men are reputed good wise and honest that are not so A man may be accounted an honest man that yet may be covetous he may be accounted a very good man yet be really corrupt in heart and in his lusts therefore 't is good to try men I dare not trust mine own heart unless God give strength of grace and assistance every moment least I should betray the truth of Christ upon some advantage when the Devil would set abroach an evil opinion or practise it 's his common way to tun it up in some clean Vessel men of civil honesty and goodness You read the old Prophet drew the young one in though expresly forbidden by God himself When you do not fear a young Christian it may be the example of an old Minister shall draw you therefore 't is good to mind who you follow Secondly Grant they are all good and real they are men fearing God as there are some yet God will not let his people know all his mind There are some that would but cannot know all his mind and will the Lord is free and voluntary he reveals things necessary to salvation but for oâ—…her things he withholds But what is your rule Call no man Master you are to follow no man further then he follows Christ And indeed for a man to follow the example of others wherein they sin and do not know it it is just like the case of holy Noah who was a gracious man and knew not the strength of the Grape he was drunk with his own Vineyard But what is the fruit of it His son Cham saw his nakedness and discovered it If good and holy men taste of the intoxicated Wine that is too strong for them and know it not will you sip after them unlesse you will discover your nakedness and proclaim it from generation to generation and make your selves Chams not sons of the Prophet Therefore I know not what warrant you have to follow such examples The fourth thing is this Christians usually they do no good by standing out Answ. Whether we get or do good or no we are to do our duty The Lord will honour you for suffering for the truth 2 Thes. 1. 3 4 5. And by suffering you shall confirm the